State Budget Delivers More Budget Aid for BBP District

New York State legislators passed a budget that will result in significantly more aid for local schools.

Bayport-Blue Pont will receive $340,231 more in extra funds for the 2012-2013 school year than projected in January.

Bayport-Blue Point’s original estimate of $15,453,223 was increased to $15,793,454.

The additional aid includes $280,007 GEA restoration and about $280,00 in the gap elimination adjustment.

The approved aid numbers, released on March 30th, state that the district will receive $497,030 more than in the 2011-2012 school year which represents a 3.25 percent increase. The January proposal set a 1.03 percent increase over last year.

As of late March the proposed budget for 2012/13 stood at $64.7 million, a 1.68 percent spending increase and a 1.89 percent hike in the tax levy.

Governor Cuomo's original January budget included plans to allocate money to districts through competitive grants that will now go instead to increased need-based aid. Changes to the final budget added $200 million, with a total annual increase in aid of $800 million allocated to schools across New York State.