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Senator Farley’s
bullet aid targets area schools
Supplemental aid allocated to address special needs of schools
approved by State Senate
 MARCH
16, 2012 - Several HFM BOCES school districts in New York State Senator Hugh T. Farley’s legislative district received good news
this week in the shape of “bullet grants” aimed at relieving their fiscal pressure. The grants range in amount from
$30,000 to $150,000, and are intended by the Senate to meet “exceptional needs.”
The following school districts were notified this week that each would receive the additional funds:
Broadalbin-Perth ($75,000)
Northville ($150,000)
Mayfield ($100,000)
Fonda-Fultonville ($30,000)
Canajoharie ($30,000)
Bullet aid is a long-standing state program that supplements foundation aid for schools.
Funds are included in each state budget to meet special needs in school districts whose particular
circumstances are not covered by the complexities of the state aid formula. Grants are requested by
individual senators and approved by the Senate Finance Committee.
A spokesperson from Senator Farley’s office explained that the senator was aware of the budgetary
struggles afflicting rural schools, particularly those in his district also waiting for the
Hudson River-Black River Regulating District to pay delinquent taxes. The bullet grants were provided
as a measure of relief.
“Every district is very appreciative of the grant awards they received, and the work Senator Farley
does on behalf of public education in the Senate,” HFM BOCES District Superintendent Dr. Patrick Michel
said. “But the underlying problems that plague public education funding haven’t been resolved.”
Most upstate school districts are struggling to prepare a budget for 2012-13 while dealing with
frozen state aid and a new law that limits increases in the tax levy. As revenues decline and costs escalate dramatically, districts face the challenge of filling multimillion-dollar gaps in their budgets without decimating their academic programs.
Fonda-Fultonville Superintendent James Hoffman outlined the crisis in a letter to Governor Andrew
Cuomo. He explained that the $2.7 million deficit his district faces for the coming year will require
drastic cuts or elimination of programs such as kindergarten, sports, art, music, advanced foreign language, honors
and college level programs in the high school, middle and high school bands, and more.
“We truly appreciate the grant from Senator Farley, perhaps more because it tells us that someone
in Albany is aware of the situation facing public schools,” Dr. Hoffman said. “But the big issues
remain unresolved. The money itself is just a band aid.”
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