Buffalo school construction legislation approved

A last-minute compromise has enabled New York Gov. David A. Paterson to sign legislation permitting a new, $300 million school construction program in Buffalo that had been jeopardized by the state’s worsening fiscal problems. The legislation had included a provision that 94 percent of the costs borne by the district would be reimbursed by the state, but then it was bumped up to 98 percent. With the state facing a $630 million deficit this year, Paterson budget aides had urged him to veto the measure. But after the sponsors of the bill agreed to take the reimbursement rate back to the 94 percent level, Paterson signed the bill.