Cuomo asked to restore education aid

State lawmakers from Long Island have renewed efforts to persuade Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo to restore almost $48 million in state construction aid that had been denied four Suffolk school districts.

In a letter last month, state senators who represent the Central Islip, Smithtown, Rocky Point and Babylon districts asked Cuomo to include the aid in the 2012-13 budget proposal the governor is expected to release by Jan. 17.

The letter was signed by Sens. John J. Flanagan (R-East Northport), Kenneth P. LaValle (R-Port Jefferson), Lee Zeldin (R-Shirley) and Owen H. Johnson (R-West Babylon).

State education officials had denied the aid requests, citing filing errors by district officials. In September, Cuomo vetoed bills that would have restored the funds, saying such spending should be allocated through the state budget rather than separate legislation.

Those decisions caused the loss of $42 million to Central Islip, $2.1 million to Rocky Point and $250,000 to Babylon. Smithtown lost $3.1 million, and could lose millions more as construction continues in the next 15 years, school district officials have said.

"This loss of aid will have catastrophic financial consequences for some of these districts," the senators wrote to Cuomo.

Cuomo spokesman Josh Vlasto said he would not "discuss the upcoming budget prior to its unveiling."

Smithtown Superintendent Edward Ehmann said he was hopeful the governor will restore the funds. "I'm encouraged by the senators' interest in keeping this issue viable for the governor's consideration," Ehmann said. "We concur . . . that the severity of the consequence outweighs the severity of the error."

An audit commissioned by the Smithtown district showed that an official there had missed deadlines six years ago for submitting construction reports to the state. The official, who was not identified, resigned this year.

In an interview, Flanagan said the restored aid would help provide "safe, adequate and healthy buildings" for students in the four districts.

"I really believe that the taxpayers in these various districts are entitled to this money," he said.

Flanagan said the lawmakers are pushing for the aid now because Cuomo is developing his budget proposal.

He said he has spoken to Cuomo's aides, who did not promise to restore the money but "have a genuine interest in trying to do this."

Central Islip Superintendent Craig G. Carr said his district "fully supports the position of our state representatives."

Rocky Point and Babylon school officials did not return calls for comment.

With Yancey Roy