Budget Passed On Time, But With Contention

For the first time in 21 years, Albany has passed an on-time budget.
With $1.5 billion going toward education, environmental initiatives, the homeless and construction on college campuses, many are praising the first on-deadline budget since 1984.
But Attorney General Eliot Spitzer criticized Governor George Pataki, for what he called “scripted” public negotiations.
“Maybe we have a budget, maybe it’s on time, and the ambiguity arises from the fact that I think this budget deferred many, if not most, of the difficult issues that are confronting state government,” Spitzer told The New York Times.
The budget provides a cap on the growth of the local Medicaid and Family Health Plus costs, yielding the city an estimated $523 million in savings by Fiscal Year 2006. And to better ensure that schools are spending the tax dollars wisely, the bipartisan agreement provides $2.9 million to the Comptroller’s office for school audits.
“The budget we passed means more for our children and students, quality, affordable health care for our families and most vulnerable citizens,” said Assemblymember Michael Gianaris.
Assemblymember Ann Margaret Carrozza said of the budget, “By providing our schools with more building aid we are helping to provide our children with a safer, more modern environment.”