Assemblymembers Ken Zebrowski (D-New City) and James Skoufis (D-Woodbury) announced that they successfully secured $4 million in additional aid for the North Rockland Central School District for the 2017-2018 school year. This assistance is in addition to the $1.2 million in increased funding the district will receive from the state’s school aid formula. Zebrowski, who represents Haverstraw, and Skoufis, who represents Stony Point, have relentlessly worked with local officials, parents, taxpayers, and advocates, in leading the fight for extraordinary aid to the cash-strapped and overtaxed school district.

Zebrowski and Skoufis also fought to successfully include a measure authorizing the state to offer lower interest, refinanced loans in place of the current bonds the school district has. This action will result in modest but important savings to taxpayers. Additionally, they included budget language authorizing the State Comptroller to study and report on the school district’s viability in light of the unprecedented and crushing Mirant debt, Lovett closure, and Bowline reduction. Zebrowski and Skoufis intend to use the report’s findings to convince the Governor’s office that a permanent, long-term solution is needed for North Rockland.

“The plight of North Rockland is starting to be heard,” said Assemblyman Zebrowski. “Four million dollars will help stabilize the district while we push for our long-term solution. The Comptroller study and report is also extremely important. Like we saw in East Ramapo, an independent report can highlight a unique problem and develop specific solutions. Our work is ongoing.”

“This $4 million will go a long way assisting North Rockland with their 2017-2018 budget,” said Assemblyman Skoufis. “This significant aid, combined with the refinanced state loans and Comptroller’s report, is an important first step towards alleviating the community of the Mirant debt’s crushing burden. While I am sorely disappointed the Assembly’s proposed long-term solution was not included in the final budget, I will not stop fighting until we achieve systemic relief.”