Communities with high taxes could see deep aid cuts

Communities that already pay the highest property taxes will see the deepest
cuts in their state school aid under the budget proposed by Gov. Paterson.
Once again eschewing across-the-board aid cuts, Paterson is targeting districts
where residents already pay higher than normal property tax bills, arguing that
these so-called "wealthy" districts can best afford to weather his cuts.
In Jefferson, Oswego and St. Lawrence Counties, that means nearly double-digit
aid cuts for at least 10 school districts.
In all, Paterson is looking to cut $27 million from last year’s aid payments to
schools in the three counties, cuts that are sure to put pressure on districts
to consider property tax hikes and program cuts.
His budget also cuts STAR property tax relief efforts, and includes more than $1
billion in new taxes on snacks, smokers and a host of state fees--all coming
just one year after Albany already hiked taxes and fees by more than $10
billion.

Read more at: http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/article/20100121/NEWS03/301219955
See the full list of school aid cuts at: http://publications.budget.state.ny.us/eBudget1011/fy1011localities/schoolaid/1011schoolruns.pdf