The Skaneateles school board has passed a resolution stating they would drop their lawsuit against the Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES capital project, if they can get state legislators to increase their building aid ratio.

The two parties have been in and out of legal battles since BOCES proposed a new facility that would cost $43.5 million. Skaneateles officials say the project is too expensive.

In order to go ahead with the project using regular state aid, BOCES would need the consent of all nine component districts.

Skaneateles felt they were not getting enough aid, were asked to contribute too much and would not support the project, so BOCES officials decided to fund the project through the dormitory authority, which does not require every district's approval.

Going through the dormitory would cost BOCES an additional $5 million, bringing the 192,000-square-foot campus up to $31,515,356, rather than $26,368,462 under traditional bonding.

Skaneateles is asking state legislators to increase state aid that would be paid to the district for the capital project to 62.9 percent from 46.6 percent.

"If the legislators will approve the state aid, it would save us a substantial amount of money," Skaneateles superintendent Walter Sullivan said.

"It is a compromise but will be a win-win situation for everyone."

New York state Sen. John DeFrancisco and Assemblyman Will Barclay have agreed to sponsor the proposed legislation. The judge presiding over the lawsuit between the two districts has agreed to adjourn the dispute until June 16, in order to give the legislation a chance to pass.

"This legislation would allow only Skaneateles to change their aid," BOCES Assistant Superintendent David Boyle said.

"We hope to have a resolution by the end of June, and that would be good news."