It was announced Sunday night that New York’s legislature agreed on a budget. They’re pretty happy with themselves for having the budget in on time for a change. After reviewing the proposals some questions crop up.
Among the few new programs is a $50 million fund to provide low-interest college loans to middle class and lower income families. The idea was first proposed in Paterson’s budget presented in December.
Among the other elements of the deal to be made public Sunday are:
Flat School Aid: Paterson had proposed a 3.3 percent cut in school aid, or about $698 million, but that was filled under the federal economic stimulus plan that required some of New York’s two-year package to fill any cuts to education. However, public schools were expecting to see as much as a $2.5 billion more this year. The projected aid is part of a 2007 law forced by a court ruling that the state failed for decades to fulfill its constitutional duty to adequately fund schools. Silver says schools will get a total of $1.1 billion more in aid than proposed by Paterson.
The state’s powerful teachers unions and the superintendents’lobby say failure to provided the money that was expected could trigger as many as 8,000 layoffs. The last time schools received less than expected, a half-decade ago, school districts increased local property taxes instead by an average of 10 percent. New Yorkers already pay some of the nation’s highest property taxes.
Health Care: Reversing some of the “damaging cuts” in health care, that had hospital advocates warning that hospitals would be closed if Paterson’s proposal wasn’t amended.
Expanded Bottle Bill: Adding water to the state’s bottle redemption law, which should bring in $118 million in revenue to the state.
SUNY Schools: $125 million more to the State University of New York, for a total of $2.5 billion; and $86 million more to the City University of New York to a new total of $1.4 billion in funding.
What do they plan to do when the stimulus funds run out? What do they plan to do when the “rich” leave New York State? What do they plan to do when New Yorkers start drinking more tap water instead of adding to the mess of bottles and cans we’re already collecting every day of our lives? What makes them think more money is needed for New York State schools when we already spend more money than any other state per student?
I would also like to ask the union members of New York State a question: How are you going to feel when your greed forces your children to move to another state?
Update: It’s late and I’m tired so maybe I missed it the first time. If so, my apologies.
It looks like the budget New York lawmakers came up with (democrat majority by the way) includes a provision to elimiate the STAR property tax rebate. In short, a property tax increase on every homeowner in the state of New York.
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