Legislators in Albany – in what is usually a long delayed process – can now vote before the April 1 deadline to finalize the proposed $132.5 billion state budget deal.
The package hammered out between Governor Andrew Cuomo and the legislature closes a $10 billion deficit without raising taxes or borrowing money.
While the budget addresses sensitive issues like $22.4 million to keep senior centers open, Mayor Michael Bloomberg says that the city is being shortchanged $600 million, forcing his hand in tough spending decisions. Without additional funding, Bloomberg may have to lay off 4,700 teachers.
“We urged the Governor and State Legislature to adopt a budget that treats New York City equitably and provides the mandate relief and reform that would allow us to absorb the state’s heavy cuts,” said Bloomberg. “This budget agreement appears to fail on both counts, and worse, it passes heavy new costs down to the city . . . The final budget still cuts New York City more than ever before. The restorations are merely a fraction of the $600 million necessary to avoid additional layoffs and cuts in the city’s budget – beyond what was announced in February – for the upcoming fiscal year.”
Some key elements of the budget agreement include a $170 million slash of the court system budget, $86 million restored to the State University of New York, City University of New York (CUNY) and community colleges, the elimination of 3,700 prison beds in yet to be named prisons, $22 million in restorations to prescription subsidies for the elderly and funding for New York City’s senior centers who were at risk for closure.
“I hope that [we get funding]. There are thousands of seniors that are having the same hope. There’s no two ways about it,” said Ike Albala, director of the Howard Beach Senior Center, after hearing about the potential funding.
The decision comes on the heels of rallies borowide in an effort to keep senior centers open.
“Very difficult choices had to be made to close a $10 billion deficit, but we convinced Governor Cuomo to add restorations to the EPIC senior drug program, senior center funding and provisions for a living wage for home care workers as well as partial restoration of education funding,” said Assemblymember Margaret Markey.
New York City schools, schools for the deaf and blind and summer schools for special education students will benefit from the $272 million in restored school aid from Cuomo’s original $1.5 billion cut proposal to schools. Jay Hershenson, CUNY’s senior vice chancellor for university relations, said he was “encouraged by the partial restoration,” calling city universities at the forefront of providing opportunities in an unforgiving economy. Hershenson believes there is more that can be done.
“There have not been any restorations to the senior colleges. There are still outstanding issues relating to tuition policy . . . we are hopeful that these subjects will receive attention throughout the session.”
According to Peter Smergut of Life’s WORC, an organization dedicated to those with autism and developmental disabilities, originally anticipated cuts of an average of 5 to 6 percent to the Office of People with Developmental Disabilities will be significantly lower at only 3 percent. Cuomo’s plan to lay off 9,800 state workers was left indefinite.
New York’s budget is expected to be voted on and finalized before the April 1 deadline, the earliest budget deadline in the United States.
