Senator Hannon (at podium) with Senator Skelos and President of the Nassau Council of Chambers of Commerce Rich Bivone At a news conference in Mineola, Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos and Senator Kemp Hannon reiterated their strong opposition to any mid-year cuts in state school aid and repudiated comments by Senate Minority Leader Malcolm Smith who said that he and his conference support mid-year cuts in school aid.

Senator Hannon said, "The bottom line is Senator Smith looks at the suburbs as the first place to cut financial assistance and the last place to add financial assistance. The loser is the hardworking homeowner paying the real property tax. This is the ultimate unfunded mandate. The result will be school districts proposing astronomical tax increases in May 2009, resulting in an Sharp tax increases or more districts running on austerity . Given this economy, Long Island cannot afford either."

"It is clear from his statements today in the Buffalo News, that Senate Minority Leader Malcolm Smith and his conference support mid-year cuts in state school aid, a move that would be disastrous for our schools, our children and for property taxpayers," Senator Skelos said. "Senator Smith obviously does not understand that this not about politics, it's about protecting taxpayers.

"Mid-year cuts to education aid must be taken off the table. Their effect would be devastating to Long Island schools," Matt Crosson, President of the Long Island Association, said. "Our school districts still bear the scars of the last round of mid-year cuts, and that was in the early 1990s. We cannot move New York forward in this economic downturn by undermining education."

"I have said for months that the Senate Majority does not support increasing taxes to close the budget deficit and we oppose mid-year cuts in school aid because it would force school districts to increase property tax increases," Senator Skelos said. "While Senator Smith and Governor Paterson have indicated that they are willing to go back on their commitment to education, the Senate Majority conference is not."

"The school aid we receive from our Long Island Senators is vital to our ability to maintain high quality programs that our communities want, expect and value, and which are required for our students to remain a success," Dr. Robert Feirsen, Superintendent of the Garden City School District, said. "Cutting this aid would have a significant impact on the programs we provide for students and which our educators provide in our school district.