State Senate Democrats restored the financial aid local communities receive to provide basic services Wednesday as part of their attempt to balance the states $1.1 billion deficit.
Gov. Scott McCallum's original budget proposal had greatly reduced the payments to local governments this year and phased out the program by 2004.
Local communities had their shared revenue saved for the current fiscal year under the Republican controlled Assembly, but had their payments reduced in 2003-'04.
Under the Senate plan, which is expected to be heard on the floor later this week, the full $1 billion worth of payments would be preserved indefinitely.
Senate Democrats also provided incentives in their plan for communities who form regional coalitions to share some of their municipal services.
