Serving Port Washington, Manorhaven, Flower Hill, Baxter Estates, Port Washington North, Sands Point
$1.50
Friday, April 26, 2024
Vol. 10, No. 17
PortWashingtonTimes Washington KIDS GUIDE
MANHASSET TEENS RESCUE 3 FROM MANHASSET BAY
PAGES 21-28
PAGE 2
State aid to schools rises in budget deal
NIGHT OF JAZZ
N. Shore districts see gains with $1.3B increase, continuation of Hold Harmless Nassau County schools will receive a year-to-year 5.69% boost in state aid, with a majority of North Shore districts seeing increases from the prior year and from Gov. Kathy Hochul’s initial proposal. The New York State Legislature adopted the 2024-2025 $237 billion state budget nearly three weeks late Saturday, which encompassed an additional $1.3 billion in school state aid and the continuation of the foundation aid Hold Harmless policy. Overall, more than $35.3 billion is being allocated to schools throughout the state, increasing by 3.82% from the prior year. Also adopted in the budget is a 421-p tax incentive to construct housing outside New York City, including $650 million in discretionary funds for pro-housing communities, $500 million for the construction of up to 15,000 new homes on state land and incentives for accessory dwelling units. The school aid increase comes after months of pushback from local school districts opposing the governor’s proposal to repeal Hold Harmless, a procedure that ensures school districts receive the same amount or
more in foundation aid from year to year. But with all school districts adopting budgets before the state budget passage, it is uncertain how these late school aid numbers will impact their budgets. The Manhasset School District was at the forefront in advocating for the continuation of the Hold Harmless policy, with nearly every budget meeting including a push for residents to advocate for the re-implementation and to reach out to their representatives. The district was facing a $629,000, or 20.7%, drop in its foundation aid. Yet it crafted its budget on the assumption that these funds would be restored. If it was not restored, then its fallback was fulfilling those $629,000 in missing funds with FEMA recovery funds. The Manhasset School District will now be receiving the largest proportional increase in state aid with a 25.4% boost. In total, it will be getting $6,318,661 in state aid, a $1,279,686 increase from the prior year. The state aid numbers are based on state legislation as reported by Newsday. The state aid numbers represent the total state aid, with breakContinued on Page 44
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE PORT WASHINGTON SCHOOL DISTRICT
Jazz band musicians from Sousa Elementary School, Weber Middle School and Schreiber High School perform at the district’s Night of Jazz sponsored by HEARTS Port Washington.
8 candidates vie for 3 Port ed board seats BY C A M E RY N O A K ES Three Port Washington Board of Education members will face off against five challengers vying for the board’s three seats up for election
BEST
10TH ANNUAL
2024
BY C A M E RY N O A K ES
OF
NASSAU
COUNTY WWW.THEISLAND360.COM/CONTEST2024
Challenging the three incumthis May. Board of Education President bents are Sandra Alvarez, Michael Adam Smith, Trustee Adam Block Bitalvo, Teodora Choolfaian, Joseph and Trustee Nanette Melkonian are Delerme and Elizabeth Weisburd. Community members can vote all running to be re-elected for anContinued on Page 40 other three-year term.
vote
NOW THROUGH MAY 24
WHO WILL BE THE FAVORITES IN 2024? https://theisland360.com/bonscontest/