WXXI: Legislature to Vote on FAIR Plan Settlement (2008-09-09)

Monroe County's legislature will vote on a settlement between the county and the suburban school districts Tuesday night. The deal results from an agreement between the schools and county to stop litigating over the county's decision last year to route sales tax revenues away from the schools. That decision was part of County Executive Maggie Brooks' FAIR plan.

County legislature majority leader Dan Quatro (R) says he and his caucus will vote in favor of the settlement.

"I'm thrilled that the county executive and the suburban school districts have agreed to end the lawsuit over the distribution of the sales tax. I'm glad that they've reached a settlement that's acceptable to both the school districts and to the county as far as our fiscal stability goes."

Minority leader Harry Bronson (D) says the county was facing an uphill battle in the lawsuit that the schools brought over the FAIR plan. He says he and his caucus will also likely vote in favor of the settlement.

"I think the settlement terms are very favorable for the county. I wish that we had not gotten into this situation but since we had, because of the steps taken by the administration, I'm glad that we can finally at least close this part of it by reaching a settlement with the school districts."

If the settlement is approved by the legislature, the county will pay the schools last year's sales tax revenues with interest, and the cost of their legal fees, over a period of five years, starting in 2010.