Rockville Centre letters for week of Feb. 17 - Feb. 23, 2011

He’ll fight for school funds

To the Editor:

As many residents know, Gov. Andrew Cuomo released his 2011-12 Executive Budget on Feb. 1. Within the budget, Cuomo proposed reducing state school aid by $2.8 billion. His cut would result in a 15.5 percent reduction in aid to the Rockville Centre school district, which, translated into real dollars, is $1.2 million.

While I agree with the governor that New York state must begin to spend less in these economically trying times, I will not accept that such a reduction in spending should come at the detriment of our children and Rockville Centre’s school system. Cuomo’s budget unfairly and disproportionally cuts the amount of school aid to Rockville Centre, as well as to all other school districts in Nassau and Suffolk counties.

In the proposed budget, schools in Nassau and Suffolk counties, which educate 17 percent of the students in the state, receive only 12 percent of the aid allocated by the state. However, schools in New York City, which educate 38 percent of the students in the state, receive 40 percent of the aid.

Additionally, Cuomo’s budget reduces Long Island’s school aid by 17 percent, whereas aid to New York City schools is reduced by only 12 percent.

There is no doubt that New York state finds itself at a difficult crossroad in its history. Unsustainable spending levels and reduced revenue streams have resulted in a $10 billion deficit this year alone. Reduced spending and smaller government is required, as the governor made clear in his first State of the State Address. Clearly, everyone in the state will be required to bear some of the fiscal pain. However, Cuomo’s proposal to unfairly reduce state aid to Rockville Centre is unacceptable. The residents of the 14th Assembly District are willing to join with the governor in righting the fiscal ship of the state. But we will not be willing to accept a share that is greater than our proportionate responsibility.

Rest assured that I will continue to push and fight for increased school aid funding by New York state for the children of our district in this year’s budget.

Brian Curran

State assemblyman, 14th District

Wants bipartisan budget reform

To the Editor: