The Friday before Gov. Cuomo presented his budget address, Comptroller DiNapoli reported that state revenues were falling short of projections by $534 million.
While revenues were higher than last year, the numbers are not performing as expected, which should serve as a warning as we prepare the 2014-15 State Budget.
The governor’s budget proposal didn’t contain many big surprises.
He outlined a few ambitious projects that would require careful budgeting and planning, but with falling revenue projections, I fear that he may be willing to incur additional state debt, which already stands at $57.1 billion, which is a $1.5 billion increase from the year before.
The governor earlier outlined a plan for tax relief for New Yorkers, which would utilize a $2 billion projected surplus over three years.
His plan is certainly a start, but as the comptroller noted, revenue projections are down and the state should be extra cautious in its spending to ensure that the surplus can actually be realized.
The legislature should carefully consider cutting more unnecessary spending to ensure the state is meeting the obligations and promises it has made to New Yorkers.
For example, the governor has proposed spending for full-day Pre-K, after-school programs and another teacher excellence fund.
These programs are good in theory, but we have yet to restore the school aid funding that was cut to balance the 2011-12 budget.
Our upstate, rural schools are struggling and our students deserve the funding promised by the state.
At a time when the state is uncertain about its future revenue streams, Gov. Cuomo proposed a campaign finance reform program that would use taxpayer dollars to fund political campaigns.
He calls it campaign finance reform; I call it welfare for politicians.
Why would anyone use a campaign finance model developed in New York City, home of political corruption, as a tool for reform in Albany?
It seems that when we need to be particularly careful about where we are spending public dollars, the governor’s priorities are a little out of synch. I will be carefully reviewing the budget to ensure that I am able to advocate and fight for your needs.
If you have any ideas or input on the budget I would like to hear them. Please call my Herkimer office at 315-866-1632, my Johnstown office at 518-763-6486 or email me at butlerm@assembly.state.ny.