State Plans to Restore $530,000 in Aid to District

After New York State drastically cut school aid last year, Gov. Andrew Cuomo is restoring some funds back to districts, including Half Hollow Hills.

The Half Hollow Hills School District is projected to receive an increase of $531,962 (not including building and transportation aid) in New York State aid for the 2012-13 school year, according to Cuomo's proposed budget announced on Tuesday.

The aid comes after the state cut $1.44 million from the district's budget for the current school year.

While the change in state aid is expected to help districts across Long Island, it is not without restrictions.

Cuomo’s “2012-13 Executive Budget and Reform Plan” features a total increase of $805 million in school aid, of which $56.3 million will be distributed to Long Island districts. The state aid figures will not be finalized for a few months as the governor and the legislature hammer out the details of the state budget. 

The total budget includes $250 million for performance grants linked to improved academic performance and management efficiency via a formal enhanced teacher evaluation process that must be created within the year. Failure to do so could mean forfeiting aid increases this year and next, according to a press release.

While the increase in aid offers some assistance for Half Hollow Hills schools, the district is still next year if residents vote to stay within the state’s new cap on property taxes.

All New York school districts will be held to annual property tax increases of 2-percent in the 2012-13 school year, unless a 60-percent majority among residents vote to override the cap.