As 2012 progresses, we will see Governor Cuomo’s agenda unfold in various ways, especially through his Executive Budget proposal. The budget is more than a simple financial plan; it is a clear indicator of state policy. The Executive Budget offers details about where the governor’s policy priorities lie.
At first glance, I can appreciate the governor’s efforts to right-size state government, stoke economic development and reform education. However, the devil is always in the details. As I uncover more particulars of the budget, I am learning that, as we move forward with budget deliberations, a stronger effort to renew the balance between upstate and downstate needs must be built in. By April 1, I want to see policy changes that will collectively benefit every region of the state.
For years, rural upstate communities paid a high price for Albany’s excessive and intrusive unfunded mandates on local schools and governments. Decades of constant buck-passing led to property tax growth that outpaced inflation. Now that there is a two percent property tax cap in place, many local governments are struggling for financial solvency while roughly 90 percent of these budgets are dictated by Albany’s edicts.
In his 2012-13 budget, Governor Cuomo requires the state to take on the rising expenses in Medicaid administrative operations and begins a process that will cap future growth. Yet, it fails to provide our communities with comprehensive mandate reform and relief. New York’s leaders must address this by placing moratoriums on existing and new unfunded mandates immediately. The survival of an affordable and vibrant upstate requires mandate relief now.
Governor Cuomo’s economic plan will be the topic of much conversation in Albany. I question its long-term effectiveness without reform of business regulations. When the governor is not committing billions to gambling and convention projects in the boroughs of New York City or to support Buffalo’s professional sports industry, he relies on repackaging state funds for “new” infrastructure projects and a second round of “Open for Business” economic development investment competition. His plan gives us no guarantee that our region will receive a large or even competitive portion of state funding. This is not new investment; it is merely a cleverly marketed and rebranded reappropriation of funds.
As New York’s economy struggles to recover from this recession, legislators must not lose sight of the policies that have stifled vigorous growth throughout the state. Eliminating business mandates, fees, fines, surcharges and state agency regulations is the key to successful private-sector growth. Regulation relief will be a game-changing catalyst for small businesses, farmers, manufacturers and economic growth upstate.
The vast divide between upstate and downstate has never been more evident than in the School Aid Formula. This heavily biased calculation robs students in rural and low-wealth school districts of an equal and competitive education. Upstate students have been the unfortunate victims of regional politics. I implore the Governor and my legislative colleagues to correct this unnecessary inequity.
It’s time to end the policies that drive wedges between downstate and upstate and between urban and rural communities throughout New York. Upstate families are hardworking folks who contribute greatly to our tax base. They deserve their fair share of the state aid, mandate relief and opportunities afforded by state investment.
If you have any additional ideas on how to end regional bias in New York State, please share them with me at butlerm@assembly.state.ny.us or call me at my Herkimer office at (315) 866-1632 or my Johnstown office at (518) 762-6486.