School districts statewide depend on BOCES to meet their educational and financial goals. The BOCES model provides accountability, municipal sharing, efficiency and equity. With BOCES as a catalyst, school districts develop shared programs that serve children from all districts regardless of enrollment, income or size of tax base. By focusing on collaboration and cost containment, BOCES help to relieve some of the financial burdens increasingly placed on local taxpayers. The stream of shared services aid has enabled districts to avoid at least some of the growth in property taxes that would have otherwise been required. (excerpted from the NYS BOCES website on 8/18/09 http://www.boces.org/wps/portal/BOCESofNYS)