Merrick School District aid delayed

The Merrick School District is starting to feel the financial effects of New York state's fiscal woes.

"As of this week, we did not get our check for state aid," Board of Education Trustee Gina Piskin announced at a Dec. 15 public meeting.

Gov. David Paterson said recently that he would consider withholding state aid in order to maintain the state's solvency. Merrick School District Superintendent Dr. Ranier Melucci said Paterson also threatened to hold all state aid for December.

As of this week, Melucci said the district experienced a loss of $14,000 in state aid funds.

"Thank God we are the kind of district that can absorb that without feeling any immediate effects," he said.

A cause for greater concern is the possibility that STAR payments totaling more than $500,000 may be withheld next month, said Dr. Christine Grucci, Merrick's assistant superintendent for business and technology.

Should the district be unable to make necessary payments, the district has access to undesignated reserve funds. Grucci, however, said that is unlikely to happen because the district receives adequate funds from property taxes.