County Quits F.A.I.R. Plan Fight; Will Restore $29 Mil to Schools

On Wednesday, Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks agreed to restore the sales tax revenue area schools lost in her F.A.I.R. plan. The county's budget had shorted local schools about $29 million in revenue this year, which set off a legal battle. The school districts won the latest verdict. Brooks said the county will pay back the funding schools lost from this year and restore that funding from now on. "I think it's a realization that this has been very damaging to the community and we need to get past that,” Brooks said. Jody Siegel, executive director of the Monroe County School Boards Association, said school leaders are optimistic that the sales tax revenue is coming back, but, they’re still worried about possible state cuts in school aid. "When this money comes back, unquestionably some of it will be used to lower... [read full story]