Assemblywoman Galef Announces Legislation to Provide State Aid to Hendrick Hudson Central School District for Capital Improve

Assemblywoman Sandy Galef announced that her legislation,

sponsored with Senator Terrence Murphy (A.5737/S.3927), to allow New York State
to reimburse the Hendrick Hudson Central School District for $1.4 million in
aid for two capital improvement projects completed in 2010 and 2011 was delivered
to Governor Cuomo Monday and is awaiting his signature.

These projects include vital and positive upgrades to all
five schools in the district. According to the district, these capital
improvements include new site paving, installation of enhanced security systems
in various schools, bathroom renovations to comply with ADA and related
regulations, playground replacement in the elementary schools, and
energy-efficient HVAC, plumbing and electrical upgrades.

These capital improvement projects were initially eligible
for state aid. However, due to an inadvertent administrative error which
resulted in a late filing of the final cost reports, the district was deemed
ineligible for certain aid. Galef and Murphy's bill will allow the State
Education Department to treat the final cost reports as being valid and
authorize the release of these crucial funds to the district.

The expected closure of the Indian Point nuclear facility
owned by the Entergy power company by 2021 will have severe financial
ramifications for the district. Funds from Entergy's payment-in-lieu-of-taxes
(PILOT) agreement, which will scale down after the facility closes, comprise
roughly 30 percent of the school district's revenues. For the 2017-2018 school year alone, that
number totals $23.6 million to the district. By the time the agreement expires in 2025, the
amount at stake will be just shy of $27 million.

"I urge the Governor to approve and sign this
legislation that will ensure the Hendrick Hudson Central School District
receives this much-needed reimbursement for which they were already
eligible," said Assemblywoman
Galef. "The Governor has already shown his commitment to the success
of the community and district by including them as a voice in the discussions
regarding the Indian Point nuclear facility closing. This is a school district
that will need every amount of aid it can receive in the upcoming years. I hope
the Governor will continue to support Hendrick Hudson students and schools by
signing this bill."

The Governor has ten days from the date the legislation is
delivered to his desk to approve the measure.