Governor David Paterson announced this morning that he will complete state aid payments to governments and schools that he had delayed in December, now that state reserves are more secure.

“Because revenues have now come in to the extent that we were expecting in January, I am now, on Friday, going to complete all the payments to everyone who was supposed to get money from the state in December,” Paterson told John Gambling on WOR-710AM in New York.

On December 14, the Governor delayed 10 percent of state aid funding slated for public schools, with Hudson Valley districts receiving about $5 million less than predicted. This decision was largely criticized and a coalition of education groups filed a lawsuit, which was delayed when it became clearer that the money would be paid in the near future.

Goshen was to receive $627,576 in state aid in December, but only received $564,818. The district will now collect the additional $62,758 in aid that it was promised.

Paterson said that similar problems may occur if the Legislature does not act to reduce the state’s looming budget deficit. The state budget is due April 1; the governor will release his executive budget on January 19.

View the Times Herald-Record article