Long Island schools are poised to gain over $270 million in extra state funding next year, which marks a 5.4% increase from the previous year. Interestingly, local homeowners are facing the highest property taxes in the nation.
The latest budget from Albany allocates $37 billion for school funding across the state.
This agreement not only ensures free breakfasts and lunches for all students, regardless of their income, but it also enforces a ban on smartphones in classrooms statewide starting this fall.
“This reflects a significant rise in school aid across the state since the funding foundation was established back in 2007,” stated the New York Board of Education Association. This comments on efforts to distribute funds more equitably to districts in greater need.
Nassau Schools will share $123 million, which is about 6% of the overall increase for the county. The total funding for the state next year will amount to nearly $2.15 billion.
Suffolk is seeing a similar increase of around 5%, which translates to nearly $150 million more, bringing total state aid to over $3 billion.
Out of 124 school districts on Long Island, 108 are set to benefit from the new budget, which is great—though, to be fair, most increases will be modest. However, a few districts, such as Hempstead and Middle Country, will enjoy notable boosts, with rises of nearly 11%, while Elmont and Deer Park will see jumps of about 13%.
Despite these funds, local homeowners likely won’t experience a reduction in property taxes—now ranked the highest in the country—since the budget was passed more than 30 days ago. Moreover, state laws require districts to finalize their budget proposals by April 25th next year.
A decade ago, state aid was much lower, but as Newsday notes, it has grown significantly, covering much more funding for Long Island schools than it did ten years prior.
Recently, Governor Kathy Hochul emphasized to Long Island homeowners that relief is included in this budget. She mentioned that around 80% of New Yorkers should expect to receive child inflation checks along with tax credits as taxes drop.
“Your family is my priority,” she stated to reporters outside a home in Copiague.
