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Showing posts with label State Budget. Show all posts
Showing posts with label State Budget. Show all posts
Saturday, April 2, 2016
ENP STAFF REPORTS
news@eastniagarapost.com
ALBANY -- State Sen. Rob Ortt, R–North Tonawanda, issued a statement regarding the New York State 2016-2017 Budget agreement, saying he believe it will "help Western New York."
Ortt's statement follows below in its entirety:
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news@eastniagarapost.com
ALBANY -- State Sen. Rob Ortt, R–North Tonawanda, issued a statement regarding the New York State 2016-2017 Budget agreement, saying he believe it will "help Western New York."Ortt's statement follows below in its entirety:
While there were certain elements of this budget that I did not support, I ultimately voted for a budget that I believe will help Western New York. We were able to reject the Governor’s proposed $15 an hour minimum wage increase, because it would have been devastating to our small businesses, family farms, and non-profits. We delivered a record $25 billion in education funding and eliminated the anti-Upstate Gap Elimination Adjustment – two major victories that will help our children, schools, and local taxpayers. We also delivered an unprecedented $4.2 billion middle class tax cut to help families keep more of their hard earned money than ever before. Finally, we ensured Upstate infrastructure received the same treatment – and funding – as downstate. We secured $27 billion for roads and bridges, because these investments are long overdue, create jobs, improve safety, and enhance the quality of life. Keeping within the two percent spending cap, I believe we passed a fiscally-responsible budget that will help our local schools, families, businesses, and seniors.
Check out East Niagara Post videos on YouTube, Vine and Periscope.
Friday, April 1, 2016
ENP STAFF REPORTS
news@eastniagarapost.com
ALBANY -- Assemblywoman Jane Corwin, R-Clarence, joined members of the Assembly Minority Conference in panning the budget process which led to lawmakers voting on portions of the 2016-17 State Budget in the middle of the night.
In her remarks, made on a budget bill (A.9009-C, Revenue Article VII Budget) presented at 12:45 a.m., Corwin called out Gov. Cuomo for "trying to control the legislative process" and reminded lawmakers about "the importance of having three separate branches of government," with the press as the fourth estate.
Corwin's comments can be see on YouTube here (link).
Legislative leaders and Cuomo agreed to a bill Thursday night that calls for a $96.2 billion 2016-2017 spending plan.
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news@eastniagarapost.com
 |
| Jane Corwin |
In her remarks, made on a budget bill (A.9009-C, Revenue Article VII Budget) presented at 12:45 a.m., Corwin called out Gov. Cuomo for "trying to control the legislative process" and reminded lawmakers about "the importance of having three separate branches of government," with the press as the fourth estate.
Corwin's comments can be see on YouTube here (link).
Legislative leaders and Cuomo agreed to a bill Thursday night that calls for a $96.2 billion 2016-2017 spending plan.
Check out East Niagara Post videos on YouTube, Vine and Periscope.
ENP STAFF REPORTS
news@eastniagarapost.com
ALBANY -- An agreement has been reached on the 2016-2017 New York State budget between Gov. Andrew Cuomo and legislative leaders.
The $96.2 billion budget holds the growth in state spending to two percent for the sixth consecutive year, and includes what the governor's office refers to as "a number of landmark policies that will strengthen opportunity for working and middle class families and a record $24.8 billion in education aid."
Gov. Cuomo said, “New York State has once again come together to get things done. Many have proposed the big changes we sought – minimum wage, meaningful paid family leave, a balanced budget that caps spending and cuts taxes – but almost all have failed. Today, I am proud to announce that with this agreement, we have succeeded.
Minimum wage was a key part of Cuomo's proposal.
"We believe that people who work hard should be able to earn a decent living and support a family with dignity. With a statewide $15 minimum wage and the nation’s only 12-week paid family leave program, we are going to prove that the economy can and should work for all," he said.
Senate Majority Leader John J. Flanagan said the budget "ensures state government continues to live within its means and builds on the progress we have realized in making New York more affordable for middle-class taxpayers and their families. It includes a record level of funding for our schools and complete elimination of the GEA, a top Senate Republican priority. I am pleased that we have fought for and won true parity in infrastructure funding, along with more than $1 billion in real and lasting middle-income tax cuts, property tax relief for hardworking taxpayers and seniors, and creation of a program to allow New Yorkers to care for their families. ... We have more work to do in making New York the land of opportunity for all, but today is another big step in the right direction."
Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie added, "Critically, this budget provides funding support for affordable housing, preserves access to quality health services for millions of low-income New Yorkers, and makes important investments in anti-poverty initiatives throughout the state. This is a budget that takes the necessary steps to move our communities and our state forward."
Details on some of the most significant parts of the budget are as follows:
Minimum Wage
It is estimated that more than 2.3 million people will be affected by the increases in the minimum wage.
Paid Family Leave
The budget agreement includes the longest and most comprehensive paid family leave program in the nation. When fully phased- in, employees will be eligible for 12 weeks of paid family leave when caring for an infant, a family member with a serious health condition or to relieve family pressures when someone is called to active military service. Benefits will be phased-in beginning in 2018 at 50 percent of an employee’s average weekly wage, capped to 50 percent of the statewide average weekly wage, and fully implemented in 2021 at 67 percent of their average weekly wage, capped to 67 percent of the statewide average weekly wage. This program will be funded entirely through a nominal payroll deduction on employees, who are eligible to participate after having worked for their employer for six months.
Middle Class Tax Cut
The budget lowers Personal Income Tax rates for middle class New Yorkers. With the middle class tax cuts of 2012, rates were lowered from 6.85 percent to 6.45 percent for taxpayers in the $40,000-$150,000 income bracket, and to 6.65 percent in the $150,000-$300,000 income bracket. Under these new reforms, the rate will drop even further beginning in 2018 and will continue to drop all the way to 5.5 percent when the cuts are fully phased in.
These new lower tax rates will save middle class New Yorkers nearly $6.6 billion in just the first four years, with annual savings reaching $4.2 billion by 2025. As the new rates phase in, they will be the state’s lowest middle class tax rates in more than 70 years. When the tax cuts begin, they will benefit 4.4 million filers, growing to 6 million filers when fully phased in.
Support for Schools and Education
The budget provides $24.8 billion in School Aid, the highest amount ever, and $5.3 billion more than 2011-12. While total state spending has been held to two percent annual growth and most state agency budgets have been held essentially flat, School Aid is increasing by 6.5 percent for the 2016-17 School Year and will have increased by nearly 27 percent since 2011-12. The increases of the last five years are as follows:
Community Schools
The budget includes $175 million in funding to transform failing schools and other high needs schools into community schools.
Charters
The Budget increases support for charter schools statewide by an estimated $430 per pupil. The budget makes permanent the calculation of rental aid for New York City charter schools.
Infrastructure Spending
The budget contains the largest state transportation plan ever approved, with over $55 billion of transportation investments statewide, including $27.14 billion for State Department of Transportation and Thruway programs and $27.98 billion for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority programs. The plan aligns capital programming for DOT and MTA over a 5-year period (SFY 2016-20) and includes additional commitments for priority projects and programs that extend over a sixth year.
Check out East Niagara Post videos on YouTube, Vine and Periscope.
news@eastniagarapost.com
 |
| Andrew Cuomo |
The $96.2 billion budget holds the growth in state spending to two percent for the sixth consecutive year, and includes what the governor's office refers to as "a number of landmark policies that will strengthen opportunity for working and middle class families and a record $24.8 billion in education aid."
Gov. Cuomo said, “New York State has once again come together to get things done. Many have proposed the big changes we sought – minimum wage, meaningful paid family leave, a balanced budget that caps spending and cuts taxes – but almost all have failed. Today, I am proud to announce that with this agreement, we have succeeded.
Minimum wage was a key part of Cuomo's proposal.
"We believe that people who work hard should be able to earn a decent living and support a family with dignity. With a statewide $15 minimum wage and the nation’s only 12-week paid family leave program, we are going to prove that the economy can and should work for all," he said.
Senate Majority Leader John J. Flanagan said the budget "ensures state government continues to live within its means and builds on the progress we have realized in making New York more affordable for middle-class taxpayers and their families. It includes a record level of funding for our schools and complete elimination of the GEA, a top Senate Republican priority. I am pleased that we have fought for and won true parity in infrastructure funding, along with more than $1 billion in real and lasting middle-income tax cuts, property tax relief for hardworking taxpayers and seniors, and creation of a program to allow New Yorkers to care for their families. ... We have more work to do in making New York the land of opportunity for all, but today is another big step in the right direction."
Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie added, "Critically, this budget provides funding support for affordable housing, preserves access to quality health services for millions of low-income New Yorkers, and makes important investments in anti-poverty initiatives throughout the state. This is a budget that takes the necessary steps to move our communities and our state forward."
Details on some of the most significant parts of the budget are as follows:
Minimum Wage
- For workers in New York City employed by large businesses (those with at least 11 employees), the minimum wage would rise to $11 at the end of 2016, then another $2 each year after, reaching $15 on 12/31/2018.
- For workers in New York City employed by small businesses (those with 10 employees or fewer), the minimum wage would rise to $10.50 by the end of 2016, then another $1.50 each year after, reaching $15 on 12/31/2019.
- For workers in Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester Counties, the minimum wage would increase to $10 at the end of 2016, then $1 each year after, reaching $15 on 12/31/2021.
- For workers in the rest of the state, the minimum wage would increase to $9.70 at the end of 2016, then another .70 each year after until reaching $12.50 on 12/31/2020 – after which will continue to increase to $15 on an indexed schedule to be set by the Director of the Division of Budget in consultation with the Department of Labor.
It is estimated that more than 2.3 million people will be affected by the increases in the minimum wage.
Paid Family Leave
The budget agreement includes the longest and most comprehensive paid family leave program in the nation. When fully phased- in, employees will be eligible for 12 weeks of paid family leave when caring for an infant, a family member with a serious health condition or to relieve family pressures when someone is called to active military service. Benefits will be phased-in beginning in 2018 at 50 percent of an employee’s average weekly wage, capped to 50 percent of the statewide average weekly wage, and fully implemented in 2021 at 67 percent of their average weekly wage, capped to 67 percent of the statewide average weekly wage. This program will be funded entirely through a nominal payroll deduction on employees, who are eligible to participate after having worked for their employer for six months.
Middle Class Tax Cut
The budget lowers Personal Income Tax rates for middle class New Yorkers. With the middle class tax cuts of 2012, rates were lowered from 6.85 percent to 6.45 percent for taxpayers in the $40,000-$150,000 income bracket, and to 6.65 percent in the $150,000-$300,000 income bracket. Under these new reforms, the rate will drop even further beginning in 2018 and will continue to drop all the way to 5.5 percent when the cuts are fully phased in.
These new lower tax rates will save middle class New Yorkers nearly $6.6 billion in just the first four years, with annual savings reaching $4.2 billion by 2025. As the new rates phase in, they will be the state’s lowest middle class tax rates in more than 70 years. When the tax cuts begin, they will benefit 4.4 million filers, growing to 6 million filers when fully phased in.
Support for Schools and Education
The budget provides $24.8 billion in School Aid, the highest amount ever, and $5.3 billion more than 2011-12. While total state spending has been held to two percent annual growth and most state agency budgets have been held essentially flat, School Aid is increasing by 6.5 percent for the 2016-17 School Year and will have increased by nearly 27 percent since 2011-12. The increases of the last five years are as follows:
- 2011-12 School Aid: $19.64 billion
- 2012-13 School Aid: $20.35 billion ($805 million increase, 4.1 percent)
- 2013-14 School Aid: $21.23 billion ($992 million increase, 4.9 percent)
- 2014-15 School Aid: $22.24 billion ($1.13 billion increase, 5.3 percent)
- 2015-16 School Aid: $23.5 billion ($1.35 billion increase, 6.1 percent)
- 2016-17 School Aid: $24.8 billion ($1.5 billion increase, 6.5 percent)
Community Schools
The budget includes $175 million in funding to transform failing schools and other high needs schools into community schools.
Charters
The Budget increases support for charter schools statewide by an estimated $430 per pupil. The budget makes permanent the calculation of rental aid for New York City charter schools.
Infrastructure Spending
The budget contains the largest state transportation plan ever approved, with over $55 billion of transportation investments statewide, including $27.14 billion for State Department of Transportation and Thruway programs and $27.98 billion for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority programs. The plan aligns capital programming for DOT and MTA over a 5-year period (SFY 2016-20) and includes additional commitments for priority projects and programs that extend over a sixth year.
Check out East Niagara Post videos on YouTube, Vine and Periscope.
Wednesday, March 16, 2016
ENP STAFF REPORTS
news@eastniagarapost.com
ALBANY -- Assemblywoman Jane Corwin (R,I,C-Clarence) Tuesday voted in support of a legislative reform package that would limit outside income of lawmakers to roughly $77,000 per year and enact campaign financing reforms. Corwin said the reforms were long awaited and called on the Assembly Speaker and Majority Conference to go much further before the end of this year’s session.
“After everything we saw last year, New Yorkers were expecting more than this from the Assembly Majority. I certainly know Western New Yorkers want to see tough measures to address Albany’s long-plagued ‘culture of corruption’ including pension forfeiture, term limits, and opening up the legislative process,” said Corwin, who introduced a 17-point legislative reform package that was stopped by the Assembly Majority earlier this year.
Corwin said, “As budget negotiations heighten, it is vital that the legislature get serious about reforming itself. There is too much hard-earned taxpayer money on the line for Albany to continue to allow three men in a room and special interests to control how billions of dollars are spent. I strongly encourage leadership in both houses to open up the budget and legislative process, and to come together on a serious reform package that we can pass as soon as possible.”
The Assembly Minority’s proposed rules reforms introduced by Corwin earlier this year would have created term limits for legislative leadership positions, including the position of Speaker of the Assembly; provided for legislative equality among all members by allowing each member to bring to a vote at least one substantive piece of legislation during each two-year term; and opened the legislative process, such as voting history and committee meetings, to the public. Additionally, Corwin has called for budget negotiations to include leadership from all of the legislature’s conferences, regardless of party or minority status.
Check out East Niagara Post videos on YouTube, Vine and Periscope.
news@eastniagarapost.com
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| Jane Corwin |
“After everything we saw last year, New Yorkers were expecting more than this from the Assembly Majority. I certainly know Western New Yorkers want to see tough measures to address Albany’s long-plagued ‘culture of corruption’ including pension forfeiture, term limits, and opening up the legislative process,” said Corwin, who introduced a 17-point legislative reform package that was stopped by the Assembly Majority earlier this year.
 |
As the Assembly Minority Leader Pro Tempore,
Assemblywoman Jane Corwin debates ethics
reforms with Assembly Majority Leader Joseph D.
Morelle today in the Assembly chamber. PHOTO: Contributed
|
The Assembly Minority’s proposed rules reforms introduced by Corwin earlier this year would have created term limits for legislative leadership positions, including the position of Speaker of the Assembly; provided for legislative equality among all members by allowing each member to bring to a vote at least one substantive piece of legislation during each two-year term; and opened the legislative process, such as voting history and committee meetings, to the public. Additionally, Corwin has called for budget negotiations to include leadership from all of the legislature’s conferences, regardless of party or minority status.
Check out East Niagara Post videos on YouTube, Vine and Periscope.
Tuesday, March 15, 2016
ENP STAFF REPORTS
news@eastniagarapost.com
ALBANY -- Assemblywoman Jane Corwin Says One-House Budget Crushes Economic Development Upstate:
"While the Assembly Majority’s one house budget proposal offers some positive solutions to issues facing our state, such as increasing education and library aid, ultimately the proposed elimination of economic development programs for upstate New York combined with an increased mandatory minimum wage that would be tied to inflation forces me to vote against this proposal. As we continue negotiating a final 2016-17 State Budget, I will be advocating on behalf of Western New York and fighting for our priorities: lower taxes, better jobs, and more opportunity for the future. Furthermore, I strongly encourage all of Albany’s “three men in a room” to open the budget negotiations process to include all party conferences and to reinstate the tradition of notifying the media of when these closed-door meetings have taken place. With this week being dubbed “Sunshine Week” in Albany, it is discouraging that budget negotiations have taken an even more secretive and backdoor approach."
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| Jane Corwin |
"While the Assembly Majority’s one house budget proposal offers some positive solutions to issues facing our state, such as increasing education and library aid, ultimately the proposed elimination of economic development programs for upstate New York combined with an increased mandatory minimum wage that would be tied to inflation forces me to vote against this proposal. As we continue negotiating a final 2016-17 State Budget, I will be advocating on behalf of Western New York and fighting for our priorities: lower taxes, better jobs, and more opportunity for the future. Furthermore, I strongly encourage all of Albany’s “three men in a room” to open the budget negotiations process to include all party conferences and to reinstate the tradition of notifying the media of when these closed-door meetings have taken place. With this week being dubbed “Sunshine Week” in Albany, it is discouraging that budget negotiations have taken an even more secretive and backdoor approach."
Check out East Niagara Post videos on YouTube, Vine and Periscope.
ENP STAFF REPORTS
news@eastniagarapost.com
Check out East Niagara Post videos on YouTube, Vine and Periscope.
news@eastniagarapost.com
 |
| Rob Ortt |
ALBANY – Senator Rob Ortt (R,C,I – North Tonawanda) today voted in favor of the State Senate’s one-house budget resolution, which kicks off negotiations with the Assembly and Governor for the 2016-17 state budget. The Senate’s proposal outlines benefits to working families, businesses and schools, including tax cuts, education funding, infrastructure and transportation parity, and funding to combat the heroin epidemic.
A video of Senator Ortt’s statement on the budget resolution can be found here.
“By increasing school aid by $1.6 billion and fully eliminating the anti-Upstate GEA, we will help students, parents, teachers, and taxpayers,” said Senator Ortt. “We insist on infrastructure parity between Upstate and New York City so that we can make record – and long overdue – investments in our roads, bridges, and water. We also continue the bipartisan fight to address the heroin epidemic by dedicating $167 million in funding to educate the public, help addicts, and put dealers behind bars.”
Cutting Taxes
The Middle Class Income Tax Relief Program would create a new 25 percent tax rate reduction that would be phased in from 2019 to 2025. This permanent rate cut will save nearly 4 million middle-class taxpayers an average of $897, for a total of $3.5 billion annually after it’s fully implemented in 2025.
Fully Eliminate the 18-a Utility Tax Surcharge
The Senate’s budget proposal would significantly reduce energy costs for consumers and businesses alike. The one-house budget fully eliminates the 18-a assessment surcharge by the end of 2016 – one year ahead of the current phase-out plan scheduled to be completed by 2017. The 18-a surcharge, imposed by Democrats in 2009, is a surcharge residents and businesses are forced to pay on utility bills charged by the State’s publicly owned utilities. The move to eliminate the 18-a surcharge this year would save taxpayers $125 million in fiscal year 2017.
Fully Eliminate the GEA for all School Districts
The Senate budget would fully restore the state education funding cuts known as the Gap Elimination Adjustment (GEA) this fiscal year as opposed to the Governor’s Executive Budget proposal to phase out the GEA over a two year period. The Senate Republican Majority is proposing to eliminate the remaining $434 million in GEA cuts that would increase aid to $1.6 billion for school districts across the state. Last year, the State Legislature eliminated nearly all of the anti-Upstate, GEA, which saved taxpayers in the 62nd district $18 million.
Higher Education Tax Savings
The one-house budget would make college more affordable for thousands of students and families. The Senate Republican conference proposed $87 million to expand the income eligibility and award amounts for the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP). It also includes an increase in the tuition tax credit and creation of a new state income tax exemption for a total tax savings of $295 million.
Rejects College Tuition for Illegal Immigrants
The Senate’s one-house does not include the Governor’s proposal of $27 million to help send illegal immigrants to college. That money would be funded by taxpayers, so that undocumented immigrants would be able to apply for state financial aid for college. The Senate rejected this proposal due to the fact that tons of working class families are struggling to send their kids to college and are being forced to take out large amounts in college loans.
Senator Ortt said, “Our conference is firmly committed to the needs of Upstate businesses, working families, and schools. It’s also important to note what’s not in the Senate budget - we firmly rejected liberal New York City efforts to provide taxpayer-funded college for illegal immigrants.”
Parity in Infrastructure and Transportation Funding
The Senate’s one-house proposes parity in infrastructure funding for highways, roads and bridges between upstate and downstate. Traditionally, infrastructure funding between downstate and upstate was essentially equal. Recently, however, the funding formula shifted - with downstate infrastructure receiving more resources than upstate. Ortt and Senate Republicans took a firm stance that the state needed to invest in infrastructure and that spending needed parity. The Senate adds an additional $6.5 million for a total of more than $200 million in upstate infrastructure aid.
Opioid Abuse Prevention, Treatment, Recovery and Education
The Senate Republican Majority’s budget proposal includes a total of $167 million in funding to strengthen opioid prevention, treatment, recovery and education services. The Governor’s Executive Budget proposed $141 million to combat the epidemic. The Senate accepts his proposal and increases it by another $26 million.
Senate Joint Task Force on Heroin and Opioid Addiction Co-Chair Senator Ortt said, “The heroin epidemic is sweeping across our state at an alarming rate without discrimination of its victims. This budget proposal represents our conference's firm commitment to addressing and ultimately eradicating the epidemic in New York State. From educating the public, to helping addicts, to putting more dealers behind bars, we've put forth proposals to attack each area of this public health crisis. I'm hopeful the Assembly and Governor will follow our lead to deliver resources to communities and families in dire need of relief."
The state’s $145 billion budget is due March 31.
A video of Senator Ortt’s statement on the budget resolution can be found here.
“By increasing school aid by $1.6 billion and fully eliminating the anti-Upstate GEA, we will help students, parents, teachers, and taxpayers,” said Senator Ortt. “We insist on infrastructure parity between Upstate and New York City so that we can make record – and long overdue – investments in our roads, bridges, and water. We also continue the bipartisan fight to address the heroin epidemic by dedicating $167 million in funding to educate the public, help addicts, and put dealers behind bars.”
Cutting Taxes
The Middle Class Income Tax Relief Program would create a new 25 percent tax rate reduction that would be phased in from 2019 to 2025. This permanent rate cut will save nearly 4 million middle-class taxpayers an average of $897, for a total of $3.5 billion annually after it’s fully implemented in 2025.
Fully Eliminate the 18-a Utility Tax Surcharge
The Senate’s budget proposal would significantly reduce energy costs for consumers and businesses alike. The one-house budget fully eliminates the 18-a assessment surcharge by the end of 2016 – one year ahead of the current phase-out plan scheduled to be completed by 2017. The 18-a surcharge, imposed by Democrats in 2009, is a surcharge residents and businesses are forced to pay on utility bills charged by the State’s publicly owned utilities. The move to eliminate the 18-a surcharge this year would save taxpayers $125 million in fiscal year 2017.
Fully Eliminate the GEA for all School Districts
The Senate budget would fully restore the state education funding cuts known as the Gap Elimination Adjustment (GEA) this fiscal year as opposed to the Governor’s Executive Budget proposal to phase out the GEA over a two year period. The Senate Republican Majority is proposing to eliminate the remaining $434 million in GEA cuts that would increase aid to $1.6 billion for school districts across the state. Last year, the State Legislature eliminated nearly all of the anti-Upstate, GEA, which saved taxpayers in the 62nd district $18 million.
Higher Education Tax Savings
The one-house budget would make college more affordable for thousands of students and families. The Senate Republican conference proposed $87 million to expand the income eligibility and award amounts for the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP). It also includes an increase in the tuition tax credit and creation of a new state income tax exemption for a total tax savings of $295 million.
Rejects College Tuition for Illegal Immigrants
The Senate’s one-house does not include the Governor’s proposal of $27 million to help send illegal immigrants to college. That money would be funded by taxpayers, so that undocumented immigrants would be able to apply for state financial aid for college. The Senate rejected this proposal due to the fact that tons of working class families are struggling to send their kids to college and are being forced to take out large amounts in college loans.
Senator Ortt said, “Our conference is firmly committed to the needs of Upstate businesses, working families, and schools. It’s also important to note what’s not in the Senate budget - we firmly rejected liberal New York City efforts to provide taxpayer-funded college for illegal immigrants.”
Parity in Infrastructure and Transportation Funding
The Senate’s one-house proposes parity in infrastructure funding for highways, roads and bridges between upstate and downstate. Traditionally, infrastructure funding between downstate and upstate was essentially equal. Recently, however, the funding formula shifted - with downstate infrastructure receiving more resources than upstate. Ortt and Senate Republicans took a firm stance that the state needed to invest in infrastructure and that spending needed parity. The Senate adds an additional $6.5 million for a total of more than $200 million in upstate infrastructure aid.
Opioid Abuse Prevention, Treatment, Recovery and Education
The Senate Republican Majority’s budget proposal includes a total of $167 million in funding to strengthen opioid prevention, treatment, recovery and education services. The Governor’s Executive Budget proposed $141 million to combat the epidemic. The Senate accepts his proposal and increases it by another $26 million.
Senate Joint Task Force on Heroin and Opioid Addiction Co-Chair Senator Ortt said, “The heroin epidemic is sweeping across our state at an alarming rate without discrimination of its victims. This budget proposal represents our conference's firm commitment to addressing and ultimately eradicating the epidemic in New York State. From educating the public, to helping addicts, to putting more dealers behind bars, we've put forth proposals to attack each area of this public health crisis. I'm hopeful the Assembly and Governor will follow our lead to deliver resources to communities and families in dire need of relief."
The state’s $145 billion budget is due March 31.
Check out East Niagara Post videos on YouTube, Vine and Periscope.
Friday, September 18, 2015
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| Librarians from around Niagara County stand with state Sen. Rob Ortt for a photo Thursday at the North Tonawanda Public Library. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO) |
ENP STAFF REPORTS
news@eastniagarapost.com
Four East Niagara libraries will receive a total of $35,000 for services, programming and materials — part of $85,000 secured for Niagara County libraries by State Sen. Rob Ortt as part of this year's state budget.
Lockport Public Library will take in the lion's share of the state funds — $20,000. The libraries in Barker, Roy-Hart and Newfane will net $5,000 each.
Outside of East Niagara, the funding is as follows:
- Lewiston Public Library - $5,000
- Niagara Falls Public Library - $5,000
- North Tonawanda Public Library - $20,000
- Ransomville Free Library - $5,000
- Sanborn-Pekin Free Library - $5,000
- Wilson Free Library - $5,000
- Youngstown Free Library - $5,000
The directors of the libraries met Thursday at the North Tonawanda Public Library for a photo op with the Senator.
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Friday, April 3, 2015
ENP STAFF REPORTS
news@eastniagarapost.com
Assemblywoman Jane Corwin issued a statement this afternoon deriding both the New York State budget process and the 2015-2016 budget itself.
The Republican from Clarence called the budget process "broken," noting how little time legislators had to read the budget before the midnight deadline. She also said the budget was actually passed three hours past that deadline, despite the governor referring to is his "fifth on-time budget."
Corwin also issued a statement Wednesday calling the budget process "disappointing" and lamenting the "three men in a room" strategy still used to create fiscal policy.
Corwin's statement from this afternoon follows in its entirety.
news@eastniagarapost.com
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| Jane Corwin |
The Republican from Clarence called the budget process "broken," noting how little time legislators had to read the budget before the midnight deadline. She also said the budget was actually passed three hours past that deadline, despite the governor referring to is his "fifth on-time budget."
Corwin also issued a statement Wednesday calling the budget process "disappointing" and lamenting the "three men in a room" strategy still used to create fiscal policy.
Corwin's statement from this afternoon follows in its entirety.
While the media and the governor’s “spin” shop continue to debate whether or not the governor can claim a “fifth on-time budget” (for the record, it was technically three hours late), the more troublesome story that deserves coverage is the broken process by which state budgets continue to be negotiated and passed.RELATED LINKS:
Budget negotiations began with optimism this year, in large part because of a new Assembly Speaker who promised to “bring sunlight to the Capitol, [and to] democratize our legislative process.” Governor Cuomo as well renewed his vow to pass the most comprehensive ethics reform package in the nation.
Mere hours before the budget’s April 1 deadline, vital components of the budget remained unseen by the public or rank-and-file legislators. Minority conferences in both houses were not consulted at any point during budget negotiations and the process relied on secretive, last-minute deals – completely disregarding our democratic process.
Bill Mahoney, a /Capital New York/ Albany Bureau Reporter, captured this irresponsibility by stating that, “…[members] who hoped to read the budget bills introduced before session would have needed to read 341 pages of legalese per hour,” to have read what they were voting on.
This is not transparency, openness or accountability. Furthermore, my colleagues in the Assembly Minority and I introduced 17 comprehensive reforms <http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/Brian-M-Kolb/story/61883/> in early March and called for immediate votes on these long-standing, well-supported and common-sense proposals. Each one was voted down.
The ethics “reforms” included in this budget add insult to injury, balking at yet another opportunity to reform this broken process. While elected officials must now disclose slightly more information regarding their outside income than before, and pensions could be revoked for criminally-guilty officials (if this measure passes a constitutional amendment), these reforms still do very little to address the vast majority of scandals that have engulfed Albany for decades.
While Governor Cuomo claims these reforms are “transformative” and “groundbreaking” the irony of his rhetoric is that this budget was crafted through the same process that he has called the most “dysfunctional” in the nation, just a few short years ago.
Along with these weak ethics reforms, the budget included many policies that greatly impact our schools. Though I support the school funding increase, as well as the restoration of $603 million to the Gap Elimination Adjustment, I am concerned about the state encroaching on educators’ ability to teach.
I believe in local control of education. Administrators have the responsibility and must have the ability to determine the impact an educator is having on their students. Educating is not quantifiable by a single determining factor. Testing is an important tool and should be utilized, but a cookie cutter approach to education suppresses individuality and personal achievement. Classroom dynamics and a student’s personal situation cannot be measured by a test.
As we continue to review this budget and understand its impact on our community, I will continue fighting to protect our schools – and taxpayers – from paying for the mistakes, and dare I say arrogance, of a few men closed off in a room in the State Capitol.
- Corwin says budget process falls short
- Unshackle Upstate calls state budget 'positive'
- Groups say budget 'sorely lacking in ethics'
- Cuomo issues budget statement
- Ortt says budget delivers for WNY
- State budget deal reached
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Wednesday, April 1, 2015
ENP STAFF REPORTS
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ALBANY — Assemblywoman Jane Corwin called the state budget process "disappointing," specifically the fact that the reform provisions that were tied to to the fiscal plan were not unveiled to the public until Tuesday, the day of the vote.
The Republican from Clarence said the "three men in a room" mentality of policy and fiscal planning must come to an end. She added, however, that there were positives in the on-time budget plan.
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|
| Jane Corwin |
The Republican from Clarence said the "three men in a room" mentality of policy and fiscal planning must come to an end. She added, however, that there were positives in the on-time budget plan.
ENP STAFF REPORTS
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ALBANY — Unshackle Upstate, a non-partisan taxpayer advocacy group said the 2015-2016 New York State Budget approved Tuesday has "several positive measures."
Greg Biryla, Unshackle Upstate executive director, issued a statement about the spending plan, which came with several policy amendments as riders. Biryla's statement follows in its entirety.
news@eastniagarapost.com
ALBANY — Unshackle Upstate, a non-partisan taxpayer advocacy group said the 2015-2016 New York State Budget approved Tuesday has "several positive measures."
Greg Biryla, Unshackle Upstate executive director, issued a statement about the spending plan, which came with several policy amendments as riders. Biryla's statement follows in its entirety.
The 2015-16 state budget contains several positive measures for our Upstate communities. First and foremost, we’re pleased to see that Governor Cuomo and legislative leaders have continued to control state spending. This is an encouraging trend that helps hold the line on taxes and we hope it will continue for years to come.
We’re grateful that a number of key issues from Unshackle Upstate’s 2015 agenda – including $1.5 billion in funding for the Upstate Revitalization Initiative, renewal of the Brownfield Cleanup Program, design-build extension and infrastructure investment – have been included in the final budget. Our organization and our partners fought hard for these issues and we thank our leaders in Albany for responding to our calls for action.
As always, significant work remains through the balance of the legislative session if Upstate New York is to truly become a place where existing employers can grow, new ones want to locate and families can build their future. It’s imperative that leaders in Albany seize this momentum by advancing legislation that will reduce taxes, create jobs and strengthen the state’s economy.
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NEW YORK — Five public advocacy groups released a joint statement Friday evening denouncing the ethic reform agreed to as part of the new state budget passed by both houses of the New York Legislature.
The five organizations — Common Cause of New York, Citizens Union, Brennan Center for Justice, New York Public Interest Research Group, Reinvent Albany — say further reforms should have been made in regards to the state's codes of ethics for elected officials.
The statement follows in its entirety:
news@eastniagarapost.com
NEW YORK — Five public advocacy groups released a joint statement Friday evening denouncing the ethic reform agreed to as part of the new state budget passed by both houses of the New York Legislature.
The five organizations — Common Cause of New York, Citizens Union, Brennan Center for Justice, New York Public Interest Research Group, Reinvent Albany — say further reforms should have been made in regards to the state's codes of ethics for elected officials.
The statement follows in its entirety:
New York needs a much stronger response than the ethics agreement advanced today by the governor and the legislature to solve Albany's crime wave of political corruption. That even the incremental reforms included in this budget were difficult to achieve indicates the powers that be in Albany are not fully responsive to the public's demand for transformative change in our state capital.
Further, we are troubled that ethics reforms are being presented with precious little time to adequately review and evaluate the bill and its many components, and will be passed via a message of necessity. Given that Albany's veil of secrecy contributes to the pervasive culture of corruption, it is simply unacceptable for ethics reform to be decided without any public review of the proposed legislation. Press releases and news accounts should not be considered reasonable substitutes for the legislative process.
The new ethics agreement does not limit the amount of outside income an elected official can earn, which our groups believe is an essential part of any acceptable solution. It will however add needed information to what is publicly disclosed about lawmakers' outside income – in many cases lawmakers will now have to disclose the names of their clients – a welcome measure we strongly sought when the Public Integrity Reform Act (PIRA) was enacted in 2011 but did not secure then. We will monitor closely both the impact of the blanket exemptions from disclosure which the measure includes and the process for winning an exemption for individual clients, although we note with approval that the number of practice areas for which such exemptions are automatically extended have been reduced in the final agreement from earlier reports.
In addition, crooked public officials will fortunately face the possible loss of their pensions-even if they were in office prior to 2012; lawmakers will also have to prove that they are in Albany in order to obtain per diems but the legislature but stronger verification could have been required. Needed codification and clarification on some restrictions on the personal use of campaign contributions are included though not as many as we had been led to believe would exist, as are new disclosures by those making independent expenditures in campaigns, as well as other measures. More state money is also being provided to the Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) so it can be better equipped to enforce the law. As such, these changes represent necessary, but incremental improvements in some covered areas.
That said, these steps are simply insufficient to fully address the parade of scandals that have engulfed Albany and will do little to restore the public's growing cynicism about its own government.
These reactive improvements put nothing more than a dent in the problem of public corruption and obfuscate the reason our state is experiencing a crime wave of corruption.
The ethical problems that have plagued Albany too often include controversies surrounding lawmakers' use of their public office for private gain and pay-to-play schemes at the highest levels of government. Relying on added disclosure requirements alone to address such potential conflicts does not fix that problem. Rather, the conflict of serving both the public interest while earning private income is best solved by further limiting the conflict and putting a cap on outside income.
Our organizations have therefore consistently urged that the governor and state lawmakers develop a limit on the amount of outside income lawmakers can earn. We have joined together in urging that reforms be implemented based on the system used by the Congress: a cap on outside income. We have also supported the creation of a quadrennial commission to examine compensation issues that we feel need to be part of any solution, which, it appears, was part of the final agreement but cannot be located in any legislation, but whose independence must be secured. While some have argued that no other state has a cap on outside income, we respond that until the Congress established it, no legislature had such a system. And the Congress established its system for reasons that echo in Albany today.
As the bipartisan task force that drafted the federal law observed, the limits and restrictions were designed to ensure that:
". . . Members are not using their positions of influence for personal gain or being affected by the prospects of outside income. . . ."
Moreover, it remains to be seen whether New York's ethics agreement actually closes a large loophole in outside income disclosure by which lawyer-legislators who are "of counsel" to law firms with clients who do big business with the state are able to shield their source of income from public disclosure.
Any ethics agreement will have to be enforced by ethics enforcement entities-JCOPE and the Legislative Ethics Commission-that themselves require substantial improvement. While we agree that the additional work will require supplemental resources and are pleased that additional funding is provided in this budget, reforms must also be enacted to ensure that these oversight agencies can adequately protect the public's interest.
The bill will also lead to the appointment of a review committee to look into JCOPE's operations. However, existing law requires that the committee was to have been appointed by June 1st of 2014 and to produce its final report no later than March 1, 2015. If that review committee had been appointed and met as was statutorily required, then policymakers would have had guidance to inform the shaping of the just negotiated ethics agreement. Unfortunately, the public will have to simply hope that the state's ethics enforcement agencies, which are not independent enough or operate as transparently as is needed, will enforce ethics laws quickly without fear or favor.
We recognize that ethics reform would not be under discussion were it not for the arrest of former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and the response of Governor Cuomo in proposing new measures. We urge New York's elected leaders to see the steps taken today as reactive and initial steps in the long march to truly reforming the way that business is done in Albany. Meaningful reform must include a limit on legislators' outside income, as well as comprehensive campaign financing changes such as public financing of election campaigns and fully closing the campaign finance LLC loophole. Much work remains.
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ALBANY — Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo issued a statement early this morning in regards to the passage of the State Budget on Tuesday.
Cuomo lauds the budget's spending plan and reforms and says New Yorkers should be proud of it.
His statement follows below in its entirety:
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 |
| Gov. Andrew Cuomo |
Cuomo lauds the budget's spending plan and reforms and says New Yorkers should be proud of it.
His statement follows below in its entirety:
Tonight, both houses of the Legislature have successfully passed the 2015-16 Budget spending plan to allow for the continued operation of government. This is a plan that keeps spending under two percent, reforms New York’s education bureaucracy, implements the nation’s strongest and most comprehensive disclosure laws for public officials and makes the largest investment in the Upstate economy in a generation.
This is a Budget that every New Yorker can be proud of, and I look forward to continuing to work to move New York forward this legislative session and beyond.
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ALBANY — State Sen. Rob Ortt, R-North Tonawanda, said the 2015-2016 New York State Budget passed Tuesday includes several of Ortt’s Western New York priorities.
Ortt pointed to key measures he said will strengthen education, economic development, and veterans’ services.
“This budget will help create jobs, fund education, and relieve local taxpayers,” Ortt said via a press release early this morning. “That’s what matters most to me – improving our ailing economy, upgrading our infrastructure, increasing aid to local schools that have been constrained by budget cuts, and helping our working class families, farms, and small businesses overburdened with taxes and regulations.”
Ortt pointed out that the budget was on time for the fifth consecutive year, which helps maintain the state’s high credit score. It was also held under the spending cap that applies to school districts and local governments. Ortt said that despite high-profile education negotiations, he was pleased with the finished product.
“This budget increases state education aid by over $1.4 billion across the state and approximately $25 million in my district,” Ortt said. “It eliminates most of the disastrous Gap Elimination Adjustment, which will save our local schools nearly $18 million. We’re helping our students by reducing over-testing and protecting our kids by kicking convicted, violent offenders out of the classroom.”
The compact wasn't perfect, though, Ortt said. “I also think it was important to take a stand against some of the Governor’s more extreme proposals base teacher performance evaluations 50 percent on testing or refuse necessary funding increases without dramatic overhauls of the system. It was also critical to fight back against a progressive agenda that wanted to provide tax-payer tuition assistance to illegal immigrants, while so many hard-working New York families struggle to put themselves or their children through college.”
The freshman senator said he prioritized Upstate infrastructure needs when entering budget negotiations. He was optimistic regarding the budget’s investments in Upstate transportation, including $50 million for CHIPS funding, $250 million for Department of Transportation needs, and $25 million for Upstate transit networks such as the NFTA.
He pointed to several additional measures that he believes will strengthen the Western New York economy, including extension of the Brownfield Tax Credit Program, agriculture assistance, infrastructure investments, as well as measures to help small businesses.
“The Western New York economy is unique from other areas of the state, so I fought hard to make sure our concerns were not only heard, but addressed,” said Ortt. “I would argue that most recent economic development projects we’ve seen across our region can be attributed to the brownfield tax credit, which is why its ten year extension is so important. With low property values and high cleanup costs, the tax credit helps revitalize properties that otherwise would generally remain contaminated and abandoned.
“The other key element of local economic development is assisting our small business community,” Ortt said. “These businesses operate on the margins and have been struggling to adjust to the state’s recent increase in the minimum wage. They simply cannot afford another New York City driven effort to raise the minimum wage without killing Western New York jobs.”
Ortt noted that he also worked to ensure that Niagara, Orleans, and Monroe County agriculture continues to thrive. The final budget includes millions in additional funding for growing apple, berry, dairy, hops and barley, Christmas tree, wine and grape, and maple producers.
“Key to this year’s budget is record funding and a market-driven approach to not only sustain, but to invigorate agriculture, Ortt said. “We provide key research, cost-cutting, and education programs to increase supply. Additionally, through dedicated advertising and expanding markets, we will also stimulate demand. These measures will help our family farms by helping to ensure that agricultural products are grown locally and demanded globally, for generations to come.”
A member of the Army National Guard who served in Afghanistan, Ortt also laid out veterans’ priorities and millions in additional funding for service members.
“My greatest honor was fighting for my country as a member of the Army National Guard,” he said. “It’s now my honor to fight for our heroic men and women who served our country as a State Senator.”
This year’s budget expands the Joseph P. Dywer program across the state and will provide peer-to-peer counseling services in Niagara County. It also invests significant research and development for post-traumatic stress treatment and support affecting soldiers who have returned from service. Due to the unique challenges many veterans face, the budget also sets aside important services to veterans needing legal support.
news@eastniagarapost.com
 |
| State Sen. Rob Ortt |
Ortt pointed to key measures he said will strengthen education, economic development, and veterans’ services.
“This budget will help create jobs, fund education, and relieve local taxpayers,” Ortt said via a press release early this morning. “That’s what matters most to me – improving our ailing economy, upgrading our infrastructure, increasing aid to local schools that have been constrained by budget cuts, and helping our working class families, farms, and small businesses overburdened with taxes and regulations.”
Ortt pointed out that the budget was on time for the fifth consecutive year, which helps maintain the state’s high credit score. It was also held under the spending cap that applies to school districts and local governments. Ortt said that despite high-profile education negotiations, he was pleased with the finished product.
“This budget increases state education aid by over $1.4 billion across the state and approximately $25 million in my district,” Ortt said. “It eliminates most of the disastrous Gap Elimination Adjustment, which will save our local schools nearly $18 million. We’re helping our students by reducing over-testing and protecting our kids by kicking convicted, violent offenders out of the classroom.”
The compact wasn't perfect, though, Ortt said. “I also think it was important to take a stand against some of the Governor’s more extreme proposals base teacher performance evaluations 50 percent on testing or refuse necessary funding increases without dramatic overhauls of the system. It was also critical to fight back against a progressive agenda that wanted to provide tax-payer tuition assistance to illegal immigrants, while so many hard-working New York families struggle to put themselves or their children through college.”
The freshman senator said he prioritized Upstate infrastructure needs when entering budget negotiations. He was optimistic regarding the budget’s investments in Upstate transportation, including $50 million for CHIPS funding, $250 million for Department of Transportation needs, and $25 million for Upstate transit networks such as the NFTA.
He pointed to several additional measures that he believes will strengthen the Western New York economy, including extension of the Brownfield Tax Credit Program, agriculture assistance, infrastructure investments, as well as measures to help small businesses.
“The Western New York economy is unique from other areas of the state, so I fought hard to make sure our concerns were not only heard, but addressed,” said Ortt. “I would argue that most recent economic development projects we’ve seen across our region can be attributed to the brownfield tax credit, which is why its ten year extension is so important. With low property values and high cleanup costs, the tax credit helps revitalize properties that otherwise would generally remain contaminated and abandoned.
“The other key element of local economic development is assisting our small business community,” Ortt said. “These businesses operate on the margins and have been struggling to adjust to the state’s recent increase in the minimum wage. They simply cannot afford another New York City driven effort to raise the minimum wage without killing Western New York jobs.”
Ortt noted that he also worked to ensure that Niagara, Orleans, and Monroe County agriculture continues to thrive. The final budget includes millions in additional funding for growing apple, berry, dairy, hops and barley, Christmas tree, wine and grape, and maple producers.
“Key to this year’s budget is record funding and a market-driven approach to not only sustain, but to invigorate agriculture, Ortt said. “We provide key research, cost-cutting, and education programs to increase supply. Additionally, through dedicated advertising and expanding markets, we will also stimulate demand. These measures will help our family farms by helping to ensure that agricultural products are grown locally and demanded globally, for generations to come.”
A member of the Army National Guard who served in Afghanistan, Ortt also laid out veterans’ priorities and millions in additional funding for service members.
“My greatest honor was fighting for my country as a member of the Army National Guard,” he said. “It’s now my honor to fight for our heroic men and women who served our country as a State Senator.”
This year’s budget expands the Joseph P. Dywer program across the state and will provide peer-to-peer counseling services in Niagara County. It also invests significant research and development for post-traumatic stress treatment and support affecting soldiers who have returned from service. Due to the unique challenges many veterans face, the budget also sets aside important services to veterans needing legal support.
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Tuesday, March 31, 2015
ENP STAFF REPORTS
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NEW YORK — Five good-government groups are publicly questioning why a publicly announced ethics deal has not been made available for public view.
The organizations — Common Cause of New York, Citizens Union, Brennan Center for Justice, New York Public Interest Research Group, and Reinvent Albany — issued a joint press release calling for state leaders to make the compact available for public view prior to the passage of the state budget.
Their statement follows below in its entirety:
news@eastniagarapost.com
NEW YORK — Five good-government groups are publicly questioning why a publicly announced ethics deal has not been made available for public view.
The organizations — Common Cause of New York, Citizens Union, Brennan Center for Justice, New York Public Interest Research Group, and Reinvent Albany — issued a joint press release calling for state leaders to make the compact available for public view prior to the passage of the state budget.
Their statement follows below in its entirety:
A NY state ethics deal may have been reached, but no one has yet seen a bill. Only 15 hours remain before the deadline of the state budget's required passage is reached.
It is unacceptable in a functioning democracy that an ethics bill about the disclosure of legislators' outside income hasn't even been disclosed to the public. Yet it will be introduced in a moment's notice, fast tracked with a message of necessity, and the legislature will vote on a major reform bill with no one having a chance to review it let alone read it.
Over the past few years, too many important bills on major issues have been handled using this short-circuited and nontransparent process. There has not been one public hearing on how to handle legislators' outside income yet a law will be introduced and passed within hours addressing the issue.
Press releases and news accounts should not be considered reasonable substitutes for the legislative process. Without bill language we can't assess the true value of these reforms, but we can be sure we don't like the way our state government is functioning.
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Sunday, March 29, 2015
ENP STAFF REPORTS
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ALBANY — Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie announced an agreement on the 2015-16 State Budget.
The Budget agreement includes landmark education reforms and investment, an ethics package with the nation's strongest disclosure laws for legislators with outside income, and new investments in rebuilding and growing the state's economy, including $1.5 billion for the Upstate Revitalization Initiative and $500 million to make New York the first in the nation to have statewide broadband.
The Budget agreement holds spending growth below two percent for the fifth consecutive year, continuing a record of fiscal discipline that has reversed decades of state budgets where spending grew at a higher rate than inflation or personal income growth.
Governor Cuomo said: "With this agreement, we address intractable problems that have vexed our state for generations. After decades of leading the nation in education spending but lagging in results, New York will set an example for all other states with a complete overhaul of the entrenched education bureaucracy. These reforms – accompanied by an unprecedented financial investment – will put students first by bringing accountability to the classroom, recruiting and rewarding our best teachers, further reducing over-testing, and finally confronting our chronically failing schools.
"I said I would not sign a Budget without real ethics reform, and this Budget does just that, putting in place the nation's strongest and most comprehensive rules for disclosure of outside income by public officials, reforming the long-abused per diem system, revoking public pensions for those who abuse the public’s trust, defining and eliminating personal use of campaign funds, and increasing transparency of independent expenditures.
"This is a Budget that all New Yorkers can be proud of.
"I commend Speaker Heastie and Majority Leader Skelos, and their colleagues in the Legislature for their hard work and leadership in reaching this agreement."
Senate Majority Leader Dean G. Skelos said: "I am pleased that we have arrived at a responsible Budget agreement that lives within the 2 percent spending cap, rejects tax increases and meets the needs of every region of this state – reflecting the priorities of our Senate Republican conference. Thanks to a dramatic reduction in the Gap Elimination Adjustment along with an overall school aid increase of approximately $1.4 billion, students will continue to have the resources they need to learn and thrive. The Budget also includes a blueprint for significant new reforms designed to improve performance in the classroom, reduce over-testing and promote excellence in teaching. In addition, we make sound investments in our infrastructure to create new jobs and encourage the private sector to build and grow. Working together, the Legislature and Governor have also significantly tightened up the state’s ethics and disclosure laws to improve transparency and restore the public’s trust. I thank the Governor, Speaker Heastie, Senator Klein and all of the members of the Senate and Assembly for their hard work and contributions to this year’s enacted Budget, which we expect to pass on time before April 1."
Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie said: "Throughout this Budget process, the Assembly Majority pledged to stand strong for New York’s families. This financial plan provides historic increases in education funding for our children, funds our Higher Education Road to Success initiative, provides safe and affordable housing for a growing number of New Yorkers who are on the brink of homelessness, and grows our economy. I am particularly proud that this agreement builds upon our core values to strengthen our families, uplift our communities, and restore faith in our government. I thank Governor Cuomo and our colleagues in the Senate for their hard work in crafting a Budget that will help move New York forward."
The Budget agreement includes spending in the following categories:
Full details and language are to be released Monday.
news@eastniagarapost.com
|
| Gov. Andrew Cuomo |
The Budget agreement includes landmark education reforms and investment, an ethics package with the nation's strongest disclosure laws for legislators with outside income, and new investments in rebuilding and growing the state's economy, including $1.5 billion for the Upstate Revitalization Initiative and $500 million to make New York the first in the nation to have statewide broadband.
The Budget agreement holds spending growth below two percent for the fifth consecutive year, continuing a record of fiscal discipline that has reversed decades of state budgets where spending grew at a higher rate than inflation or personal income growth.
Governor Cuomo said: "With this agreement, we address intractable problems that have vexed our state for generations. After decades of leading the nation in education spending but lagging in results, New York will set an example for all other states with a complete overhaul of the entrenched education bureaucracy. These reforms – accompanied by an unprecedented financial investment – will put students first by bringing accountability to the classroom, recruiting and rewarding our best teachers, further reducing over-testing, and finally confronting our chronically failing schools.
"I said I would not sign a Budget without real ethics reform, and this Budget does just that, putting in place the nation's strongest and most comprehensive rules for disclosure of outside income by public officials, reforming the long-abused per diem system, revoking public pensions for those who abuse the public’s trust, defining and eliminating personal use of campaign funds, and increasing transparency of independent expenditures.
"This is a Budget that all New Yorkers can be proud of.
"I commend Speaker Heastie and Majority Leader Skelos, and their colleagues in the Legislature for their hard work and leadership in reaching this agreement."
Senate Majority Leader Dean G. Skelos said: "I am pleased that we have arrived at a responsible Budget agreement that lives within the 2 percent spending cap, rejects tax increases and meets the needs of every region of this state – reflecting the priorities of our Senate Republican conference. Thanks to a dramatic reduction in the Gap Elimination Adjustment along with an overall school aid increase of approximately $1.4 billion, students will continue to have the resources they need to learn and thrive. The Budget also includes a blueprint for significant new reforms designed to improve performance in the classroom, reduce over-testing and promote excellence in teaching. In addition, we make sound investments in our infrastructure to create new jobs and encourage the private sector to build and grow. Working together, the Legislature and Governor have also significantly tightened up the state’s ethics and disclosure laws to improve transparency and restore the public’s trust. I thank the Governor, Speaker Heastie, Senator Klein and all of the members of the Senate and Assembly for their hard work and contributions to this year’s enacted Budget, which we expect to pass on time before April 1."
Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie said: "Throughout this Budget process, the Assembly Majority pledged to stand strong for New York’s families. This financial plan provides historic increases in education funding for our children, funds our Higher Education Road to Success initiative, provides safe and affordable housing for a growing number of New Yorkers who are on the brink of homelessness, and grows our economy. I am particularly proud that this agreement builds upon our core values to strengthen our families, uplift our communities, and restore faith in our government. I thank Governor Cuomo and our colleagues in the Senate for their hard work in crafting a Budget that will help move New York forward."
The Budget agreement includes spending in the following categories:
- Total State Operating Funds: $94.25 billion; 2.0% growth
- School Aid: $23.5 billion; 6.1% growth
- Medicaid: $17.741 billion; 4.6% growth
- Funds from financial settlements: $5.4 billion, including $1.5 billion for the Upstate Revitalization Initiative and $500 million to make New York the first in the nation to have statewide broadband.
Full details and language are to be released Monday.
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Monday, March 23, 2015
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ALBANY — Gov. Andrew Cuomo's communications director sent out a "clarification" to the press regarding the ongoing budget process.
Melissa DeRosa's email states that the governor will not sign a budget without an agreement in place on ethics reform for state lawmakers. It also states that Gov. Cuomo will support an increase in education funding providing education reforms can be agreed to.
The budget is due by April 1.
DeRosa's full statement follows:
news@eastniagarapost.com
Melissa DeRosa's email states that the governor will not sign a budget without an agreement in place on ethics reform for state lawmakers. It also states that Gov. Cuomo will support an increase in education funding providing education reforms can be agreed to.
The budget is due by April 1.
DeRosa's full statement follows:
The Governor and the legislative leaders are in the midst of ongoing budget discussions which have intensified as we have gotten closer to the budget deadline. As rumors swirl in the Capitol, several issues should be clarified. The Governor has stated repeatedly and clearly that ethics reform was a top priority and that he wouldn’t sign a budget without ethics reform. Nothing has changed. A budget done with both houses must include ethics reform. The Governor believes that the concerns of legislators who have outside employment such as a law practice have been addressed consistent with his program for increased ethics disclosure and transparency. The Assembly obviously has already agreed with the Governor’s ethics package and has numerous members with outside employment. The Governor said he would not sign off on a budget that doesn’t include the ethics reforms he outlined, and he meant it.
Education reform is another top priority in this budget. The key education reforms are dealing with the epidemic of failing schools, improvement to the teacher evaluation system, tenure reform, teacher performance bonuses and scholarships to attract new teachers. If those reforms are passed, the Governor will support a significant funding increase. The Governor believes these changes will be transformative to our education system.
The DREAM Act is supported by the Assembly and the Education Tax Credit is supported by the Senate. Last year, neither initiative was passed. The Governor believes at this point, that either both will pass or neither. The Governor supports passage of both and included them in his budget. If they don’t pass in the budget, they could still pass in regular session.
The Governor supports a pay commission and included it in his original budget. The charter cap and mayoral control for New York City are issues that can be addressed in the budget, or more likely in the remainder of the session. Regardless, both should be addressed before the conclusion of the session.
Other top priorities in the budget include raising the minimum wage, a small business tax cut and real property tax relief, the Governor’s $1.5 billion Upstate Revitalization Initiative, statewide broadband, a Thruway stabilization fund and a substantial increase in funding for affordable housing.
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Sunday, March 15, 2015
ENP STAFF REPORTS
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ALBANY — State Sen. Rob Ortt said the Senate’s “Brighter Future” budget plan could mean significant investments in infrastructure in the 62nd District.
The Senate’s proposal, which was laid out Thursday, includes $1.5 billion for Upstate revitalization projects, and as part of a five-year road and bridge capital program, would add another $1.5 billion for infrastructure projects.
“The Senate budget focuses on rebuilding our roads and bridges to spur job creation and economic revitalization,” said Ortt, R-North Tonawanda. “This is something that’s critical to my district and Western New York as a whole. Many of our canal bridges are closed because of deterioration. We need to fix and reopen these bridges if not for our safety, for the efficacy of local commerce.”
The infrastructure portion of the “Brighter Future” budget also proposes $700 million for regionally significant economic development projects identified by local leaders, money for rural broadband, $25 million for Upstate transit capital projects, and $50 million for the Main Street Revitalization program to assist local governments in cleaning up blighted areas.
Additionally, due to this year’s harsh winter and the toll it took on our roads, the budget plan calls for another $50 million for the Consolidated Local Streets and Highway Program (CHIPS).
The state budget is due March 31.
news@eastniagarapost.com
|
| State Sen. Rob Ortt |
The Senate’s proposal, which was laid out Thursday, includes $1.5 billion for Upstate revitalization projects, and as part of a five-year road and bridge capital program, would add another $1.5 billion for infrastructure projects.
“The Senate budget focuses on rebuilding our roads and bridges to spur job creation and economic revitalization,” said Ortt, R-North Tonawanda. “This is something that’s critical to my district and Western New York as a whole. Many of our canal bridges are closed because of deterioration. We need to fix and reopen these bridges if not for our safety, for the efficacy of local commerce.”
The infrastructure portion of the “Brighter Future” budget also proposes $700 million for regionally significant economic development projects identified by local leaders, money for rural broadband, $25 million for Upstate transit capital projects, and $50 million for the Main Street Revitalization program to assist local governments in cleaning up blighted areas.
Additionally, due to this year’s harsh winter and the toll it took on our roads, the budget plan calls for another $50 million for the Consolidated Local Streets and Highway Program (CHIPS).
The state budget is due March 31.
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Thursday, March 12, 2015
ENP STAFF REPORTS
news@eastniagarapost.com
ALBANY — State Sen. Rob Ortt, R-North Tonawanda, said the passage of the State Senate’s “Brighter Future” budget plan would greatly benefit Western New York schools and families.
The Senate’s proposal, to be negotiated with the Assembly and the Governor, increases school aid by $1.9 billion over last year, and eliminates the $1 billion deficit remaining from the Gap Elimination Adjustment.
“Our budget builds a brighter future for our students,” Ortt said. “This significant increase in school aid will provide teachers and students with the resources they desperately need. We also propose eliminating the Gap Elimination Adjustment to restore billions of dollars lost in school aid to our western New York students. And, by expanding aid to community colleges and increasing the ceiling for the state's tuition assistance program, we will make college more affordable for New Yorkers.”
The GEA was introduced in 2010 to close the state’s then-$10 billion budget deficit by diverting funding originally dedicated to school districts and deducting it from state aid.
The Senate’s proposal combines with the Assembly’s one-house budget resolution and the Governor’s executive budget to layout each stakeholder’s position heading into budget negotiations.
The state budget is due March 31.
news@eastniagarapost.com
|
| State Sen. Rob Ortt |
The Senate’s proposal, to be negotiated with the Assembly and the Governor, increases school aid by $1.9 billion over last year, and eliminates the $1 billion deficit remaining from the Gap Elimination Adjustment.
“Our budget builds a brighter future for our students,” Ortt said. “This significant increase in school aid will provide teachers and students with the resources they desperately need. We also propose eliminating the Gap Elimination Adjustment to restore billions of dollars lost in school aid to our western New York students. And, by expanding aid to community colleges and increasing the ceiling for the state's tuition assistance program, we will make college more affordable for New Yorkers.”
The GEA was introduced in 2010 to close the state’s then-$10 billion budget deficit by diverting funding originally dedicated to school districts and deducting it from state aid.
The Senate’s proposal combines with the Assembly’s one-house budget resolution and the Governor’s executive budget to layout each stakeholder’s position heading into budget negotiations.
The state budget is due March 31.
For instant access to East Niagara Post's YouTube videos, social media feeds and more,
Thursday, April 3, 2014
One item in the recently enacted state budget was a $40 million allocation for road repair across the state, due to the harsh winter. Nearly $153,000 of that is earmarked for local governments in East Niagara.
That $153,000 is in addition to the already budgeted funding for the Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program (CHIPs), the normal mechanism for delivering state aid to municipalities for surface improvements on locally-controlled thoroughfares.
State Sen. George Maziarz said "As Niagara County residents know, this last winter did a lot of damage to our streets and roads. As a result, we are driving record amounts of aid to local governments so we can help them fix potholes and patch road surfaces. I made this a priority in our budget negotiations and I’m glad we were successful. Between the CHIPS dollars and this extra money set aside for pothole repairs, we are helping to address the problems local residents face every day when they are driving to work, to school, or to the store."
A breakdown of CHIPS and emergency funding shows that county-wide, nearly $7 million is allocated for road repair. A breakdown of East Niagara municipalities with CHIPs funding followed by emergency funding and then the total state aid for road repair for 2014/15 is below.
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That $153,000 is in addition to the already budgeted funding for the Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program (CHIPs), the normal mechanism for delivering state aid to municipalities for surface improvements on locally-controlled thoroughfares.
State Sen. George Maziarz said "As Niagara County residents know, this last winter did a lot of damage to our streets and roads. As a result, we are driving record amounts of aid to local governments so we can help them fix potholes and patch road surfaces. I made this a priority in our budget negotiations and I’m glad we were successful. Between the CHIPS dollars and this extra money set aside for pothole repairs, we are helping to address the problems local residents face every day when they are driving to work, to school, or to the store."
A breakdown of CHIPS and emergency funding shows that county-wide, nearly $7 million is allocated for road repair. A breakdown of East Niagara municipalities with CHIPs funding followed by emergency funding and then the total state aid for road repair for 2014/15 is below.
- Niagara County: $2,178,463 - $167,999 - $2,346,462
- City of Lockport: $567,855 - $53,113 - $620,968
- Town of Hartland: $135,066 - $15,913 - $154,992
- Town of Lockport: $158,914 - $17,896 - $176,810
- Town of Newfane: $159,467 - $18,371 - $177,838
- Town of Royalton: $200,176 - $23,939 - $224,115
- Town of Somerset: $89,330 - $10,309 - $99,638
- Village of Middleport: $32,525 - $3,626 - $36,152
- Village of Barker: $8,657 - $958 - $9,615
- Countywide total: $6,374,148 - $591,994 - $6,966,142
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Tuesday, April 1, 2014
Maziarz said in a release that it "contains many positive elements to move our economy in the right direction and create jobs."
Particularly, Maziarz pointed to positives that include a plan to speed up the phasing out of the 18-A energy assessment, cutting manufacturers’ income tax rates to zero and establishing a property tax credit for them.
"Lowering costs for businesses will mean more jobs in our communities," Maziarz said. "This should continue to be our primary objective at the state level—making New York a place where economic activity can flourish. The opportunities that will be created by making our state more business-friendly are exciting to think about."
The Newfane Republican also said there were positives on the education front. The budget calls for more than a billion dollars in new funding for schools statewide, including more than $17 million for public schools in the 62nd Senate District.
"The Smart Schools Bond Act, which voters will decide on this November, will also add another $2 billion in funding for critical technology upgrades in schools, $40 million of which will come back to schools in the 62nd Senate District," he said.
Another highlight Maziarz pointed to was $40 million for road repairs. "This money will help fix potholes and make our streets safer."
The budget also included $12.5 million for Niagara County Community College for the design and construction of a new learning commons in order to better serve students.
The budget was far from perfect in Maziarz eyes, however, in part because it allocated money to implement the New York SAFE Act, creating a statewide database for checking backgrounds and tracking ammunition sales.
"This is reprehensible and I voted against this aspect of the budget agreement," Maziarz said. "Like the unSAFE Act itself, these measures represent an unwarranted infringement on our Second Amendment rights and they should be opposed."
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