Governor Andrew Cuomo presented his 2014-2015 Executive Budget address Tuesday, highlighting economic investments in education, including universal, full-day pre-k, while promising to deliver a fourth, consecutive on time budget.
“If government works right the budget is an easy process,” the governor said.
The $137.2 billion proposed budget provides for tax relief measures the governor outlined in his State of the State address earlier this month, including a renters tax credit.
But “the budget is more than just a budget. It’s more than just dollar and cents,” said Cuomo.
“The best long term economic development strategy is to have the best economic system,” according to the governor.
Cuomo is proposing universal, full-day pre-k statewide, with an estimated cost of $1.5 billion over the next five years. The state would fully fund the program.
“The state will pay for it and the state will be proud to pay for it,” Cuomo said.
A plan proposed by Mayor Bill de Blasio for universal, full-day pre-k in the city would be funded by taxing the wealthy.
The budget puts aside money for a plan the governor outlined earlier this month for the state’s ongoing storm mitigation and recovery efforts.
It includes five billion dollars for the most massive reconstruction of the subway system in 110 years, according to Cuomo.
Additional investments discussed at the budget presentation were $100 million to restore and build 300 affordable housing units and $1.2 billion of capital funding for hospitals, clinics and long-term care facilities.
Cuomo concluded his address by emphasizing the importance of ethics reform, which is included in the budget.
“We’re going to put a system in place that make sure if and when these things happen again there will be a system to take care of it,” he said.
For more details on the 2014-2015 Executive Budget, visit www.budget.ny.gov.
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