Bethpage-Tribune_2007-04-06

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Saladino, Hannon, Fuschillo, Conte
Forge Better On-Time State Budget
Assemblymen Joseph Saladino and Jim Conte, Senators Kemp Hannon
and Chuck Fuschillo worked into the early morning hours this weekend to
finish the 2007-08 State Budget on-time and won significantly more rev­enues
to support our Long Island school districts. This initiative was a suc­cessful
attempt by Assemblyman Saladino and our Long Island Senators to
fight Gov. Spitzers low amounts of school aid in his proposed budget.
"The Governor's budget would have wreaked havoc on our schools, our
children's education and most importantly it would have forced property
taxes sky-high," said Assemblyman Saladino. "We refused to take the
financially unfair treatment and slowed the budget process to force a
greater share of state school aid. I am happy to have stood tall with our
Senators, especially Chuck Fuschillo and Kemp Hannon. We delivered
record amounts of state aid, taxpayer rebate checks, additional aid to
healthcare and we did it quickly enough to achieve an on-time budget."
Pressure from Assemblyman Saladino, Senators Skelos, Marcellino,
Hannon, Fuschillo and their Republican colleagues helped to push
Governor Spitzer to add upwards of $500 million in additional aid for
Nassau County school districts. The Governor's initial budget proposal
would have short-changed Long Island school districts and not provided
direct property tax relief to homeowners. However, state legislators and
Saladino managed to negotiate additional funding for Long Island schools
as part of the $1.75 billion increase in school funding and restored property
tax relief by adding rebate checks to property owners.
Long Island school districts have long been short-changed when it comes
to their share of state education funding while New York City Schools con­tinue
to receive far more. This deficiency has forced local government to
pass the cost of fully funding education on to local property owners and
taxpayers. The 2007-08 Executive Budget would have only increased edu­cational
funding for the 11 schools in the 12th Assembly District by an
average of 3.92 percent from last year. Through tough negotiations this
past week by the Long Island Republican delegation, they were able to
secure an average increase of 12.16 percent for our school districts. As a
whole, Nassau County schools will now receive additional $50 million
more than the Governor's initial education fund proposal. These funds will
go a long way to easing our overburdened property taxpayers.
Increased education funding, in the form of High Tax Aid, will add the
following amount to school districts in the 12th Assembly District to
reduce school taxes for property tax payers:
Bethpage
East Meadow
Farmingdale
Island Trees
Levittown
Massapequa
Plainedge
$449,824
$1,161,529
$939,711
$403,870
$1,179,646
$1,228,694
$527,446
"This budget spends $8.3 billion more than last year's budget, with New
York City schools and programs receiving the lion's share of increases.
The Long Island Republican delegation fought to get our fair share. I hope
in the future that the governor will provide our region with a more equi­table
portion of the resources. Taxpayers are already overburdened and
deserve what is fair," said Assemblyman Saladino.
"By bringing home more for Long Island schools we are helping to mini­mize
property tax burdens," stated Assemblyman Saladino. "This has been
a tough fight, but I am optimistic that these efforts will result in lower
school taxes and a furthering of education for our children, homeowners,
and schools. And, it is an on-time budget that is icing on the cake."
Bethpage Fire Department
Installation and Awards 2007
Chief of Department Gregory A. Patsos being sworn in, shown with his wife
Gina and sons Niko, Dean and Christian. Photos by Kevin Imm
Assistant Chiefs installed, L to R, Christine Schultz and 2nd Assistant Chief
Dale R. Schultz, Laura Smith and 1st Assistant Chief Todd M. Smith.
Installation of Company Captains, Lieutenants, Staff Officers and Clergy
by Chief Gregory A. Patsos. More photos on page 11