Assemblyman Tom Alfano announced that the new state budget would contain an increase of $112 million in aid to local governments. The funding will restore proposed budget cuts and increase funding to communities like Floral Park, Bellerose, South Floral Park and Stewart Manor. The additional aid will assist local village governments with essential services to the community.

Here are the new aid packages: Village of Floral Park ($294,129, increase of 3 percent); Village of Bellerose ($15,452, increase of 3 percent); Village of South Floral Park ($33,594, increase of 3 percent); and Village of Stewart Manor ($46,983, increase of 3 percent).

"I'm really happy that I was able to help restore these cuts to our villages," Assemblyman Alfano said. "This funding will help our local villages to continue to provide outstanding services. That is what our Villages are known for, and I'm very proud to have assisted them with this additional funding."

Under former Governor Eliot Spitzer's budget proposal, Alfano said villages would have seen a 2 percent reduction cut of aid. The new budget will contain an increase of 3 percent. "This is not only a restoration of funding for the villages, but it's a budget increase. This funding is priority to me along with school aid and health care funding. This budget aid helps keep our village services in tip-top shape. It also compliments the great village teams we have working for our communities."

According to Assemblyman Alfano, former Governor Spitzer's budget slashed funding to local villages and put into jeopardy municipal services by cutting funding. "There is no question that the funding the governor chose to cut would have resulted in cuts to our local village services and resulted in additional tax increases," Alfano said.

Here are the new aid packages:

Village of Floral Park	$294,129	Increase of 3 percent
Village of Bellerose	$15,452	Increase of 3 percent
Village of South Floral Park	$33,594	Increase of 3 percent
Village of Stewart Manor	$46,983	Increase of 3 percent