Gov. George Pataki’s annual executive budget sparked immediate debate among legislators and state residents as soon as it was unveiled last month, well in advance of the constitutional deadline of April 1 for passage of a final spending plan.
While 2005 saw adoption of the first on-time state budget in over two decades, it remains to be seen what could stand in the way of the state Legislature passing another timely spending plan this year. Hearings on the elements of this year’s budget proposals are already well underway.
But in the meantime, there are steps to take to streamline the budget process and ensuring we never again have to break out the “budget countdown clock.”
What are some of the real solutions to budget reform?
First, there should be an independent budget watchdog group assigned to ensure a fair and unbiased budget having the state’s best interests is advanced to the state Legislature for its action.
Also, my Assembly minority colleagues and I have long pushed for sensible and real budget reforms that would:
- Require a balanced, enacted budget
- Encourage on-time budgets
- Implement binding revenue forecasts
- Provide additional information to the public and legislators before voting on the Budget
- Require open, public conference committees
- Increase the state’s “rainy day” fund to 5 percent of general fund spending – the level maintained by most other states.
It is clear New York’s budget process is in dire need of help. It’s time for Sheldon Silver and his Assembly majority to acknowledge the need for reform and put the best interests of our state’s residents first.