Measure signed to forgive millions in fines to Newburgh and Chester school districts

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ALBANY – Inadvertent administrative oversights and small clerical errors from several years ago could have cost the Newburgh Enlarged City School District $12.5 million and the Chester Union Free School District $3.3 million.

Legislation forgiving the payments, sponsored by Senator James Skoufis (D, Woodbury) and Assemblyman Jonathan Jacobson (D, Newburgh) passed both houses and was just signed by Governor Cuomo.

“Passing this bill was my number one local priority,” said Jacobson. “This penalty should never have been proposed in the first place.”

Skoufis said the waiver removes a potential big financial hit on the districts.

“It certainly saves what would have been a significant burden on the taxpayers of these two districts, but those tax increases would likely have been coupled with significant reductions in programming and academics in Newburgh and Chester,” Skoufis said. “It was really a big win for the students, the faculty, the districts and the taxpayers.”

Late last year, the governor vetoed similar measures.

“It was about time this bill was signed and this issue no longer has to be of concern for Chester and Newburgh,” said Assemblyman Colin Schmitt (R, New Windsor), a co-sponsor of the measure.




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