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State Senator Mike Nozzolio announced that schools across his Senate District will receive an increase of more than $12 million in day-to-day operating aid as part of the 2012-13 State Budget.

“Despite a $2 billion deficit, which we successfully closed without raising taxes, my Senate colleagues and I were able to secure a significant increase in school aid and target more of that aid to low-wealth and high-need districts,” said Senator Nozzolio. “This State Budget is a major step forward in helping schools across the Finger Lakes Region meet the challenges they face in providing a high quality education to our children.”

The budget provides over $412 million in total State aid for the schools in Senator Nozzolio’s district, an increase of more than 4% from last year.

Overall, the State Budget delivers the $800 million increase in aid to education that the State Senate worked with Governor Cuomo last year to secure. Following the recommendations of Senator Nozzolio and his colleagues, the final budget reallocates over $200 million of that amount away from proposed “competitive grants” back into general operating aid. As a result, 71% of the school aid increase will go to high-need districts. The New York State School Boards Association gave this plan its top rating of “A”.

During the budget negotiations, Senator Nozzolio met with local school officials and education aid experts both throughout his district and in Albany to better understand the unique needs and challenges facing our schools. Earlier this year, he organized and hosted a region-wide forum on education where local school district leaders and educators had the opportunity to discuss their budget concerns with the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Education, Senator John Flanagan.

“Over the past few months, I have had a number of very positive and helpful interactions with teachers, parents, students and school administrators from across our region. I thank them for all of their help as I fought to restore these critical resources for our schools,” said Senator Nozzolio. “While I will always continue fighting to secure additional education aid, this budget achieves outstanding progress in supporting our local schools.”

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