" Sheldon Silvers comment, 'if the state is to help localities pick up the slack (property tax cap), it shouldn't come at the expense of the state's own priorities, including education.' is so sad it is almost amusing! Roughly 47% of school funding comes from local property & school taxes, 38% from State sources other than lottery, 6% from federal sources, 5% from NYS lottery & from other local revenue and transfers. (NYS lottery website)

The State STOP grant funding for unnecessary items like artificial turf & half million-dollar concession stands. They have NOTHING to do with educating our children.

Not only do we have to pay for everything from pencils to tissues for the kids & their classrooms, but also fundraisers are held to pay for field trips, playground equipment, etc.

After paying 100-250.00 per child BEFORE school starts (and that is if one is very frugal and watches sales, buys most clothing second hand and tells their kids that they really don't need Nike iPod sneakers) the first couple of weeks of school we are nickel & dimed with required school t-shirt in the correct grade color, Time & National Geographic For Kids, school pictures, t-shirt sale (different from the mandatory purchase). Then in January there is the traditional letter home that the classroom needs the supplies from Clorox wipes to dry erase markers replenished. What gives?

The State should concentrate strictly on academics and classes that are held during the school year and forget about grants for unnecessary items. If the district or a school wants such things there should be fundraisers or donations to raise the funds. Never should money be taken away from academics for parking lots, fake grass and 'snack bars'.

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" Maybe Mr. Silver and friends (Both Sides) should pay the current bills before handing out Assemblyman line item spending. And I'm still for a cut to their pays, like the workers at NPG/Magna had to take. I'm sure Mr. Silver and friends will still be able to pay for their school taxes even after a pay cut of 50%. Maybe tax payers should start a new N.Y. State slogan "If you want to keep N.Y. State Open, you need to cut costs and taxes." But, no they plan to do away with the STAR program and raise taxes too. "