Cheektowaga, N.Y. (WBEN) - Local school districts were blindsided recently in learning they may not be fully reimbursed for educating migrant students.
"This has been my concern from Day 1," said Erie County Legislator Frank Todaro representing the Town of Cheektowaga.
"We know as lawmakers, and policymakers, that in government, if it's not on paper, it's most likely not going to happen."
New York City officials, including Mayor Eric Adams, originally said that they would repay local school districts 100% of costs incurred, but have since reduced the amount to 50%.
Todaro remembers a meeting of the Erie County Legislature last summer with the Cheektowaga Police Chief, and Maryvale Superintendent Joe D'Angelo where the reimbursement issue was addressed, after approximately 600 migrants were bused to Erie County from New York City.
The migrants have taken up shelter at hotels in Cheektowaga and Amherst. Migrant children attend Maryvale and Sweet Home schools.
"We were told that Albany is going to pay us 100%. They're going to reimburse us," insisted Todaro.
At the same time, he remembers thinking, "In our world, in the Legislature's world, if it's not on paper, it's not going to happen. We tried to confirm it. But everyone said, we'll be paid. Well, here we are. It's one of those moments where I want to tell everybody, it should have been on paper."
What can the Legislature do?
"We're going to advocate for them," Todaro assured WBEN. "We're not going to leave anyone behind. We're going to send letters to the governor requesting that they return to the table and stick to their word. We're going to fight for them."
He said every legislator in the minority caucus has said, since day one, that they cannot allow the cost to be put on the taxpayers. "And that's exactly what the plan is," said Todaro. "At least it seems so, at this moment."
Costs so far just in the Maryvale district total a little more than 400 thousand dollars." I call that a soft cost," said Todaro. "There's going to be more. There are food costs and so many different avenues that have not been talked about. I think the figure that's being tossed around is low."
He hates to even think about this, but Todaro said if no money comes anytime soon, the taxes in the Maryvale School District will have to go up." Adding, "There's no way around it."