In the legislature, we are entering into the home stretch, one of our most intense times of the year – the state budget season. It’s now, after careful review of the governor’s proposed budget, that we make our case for policies that will either propel the state forward toward recovery or further hinder its growth. The state budget is the single-most significant policy decision made each year in this state.
In recent years, we all have weathered some difficult times, where family budgets were stretched thin and opportunities for jobs and upward mobility became scarce. It’s been tough.
Over the last few years, we’ve made some headway reducing spending, lowering income taxes and capping property tax rates. I am proud of those changes, but when I look at the needs within our communities and I examine Gov. Cuomo’s proposed 2013-14 budget, I know we can and must do better.
There are great concerns over how our schools, hospitals, nursing homes, libraries and municipalities are funded. Local aid in a number of areas is poorly formulated, stagnant and compromised by the lack of significant unfunded mandate relief or subject to competition – especially in the case of education grants, economic development and tourism marketing funding.
I am disappointed by what is and isn’t in Cuomo’s budget. Spending growth, while relatively modest, remains too expensive for hardworking families. Nearly $1.3 billion in pork barrel spending is granted to the governor to award to whomever he wishes. We should, in light of the fact that families are still struggling, instead continue to reduce spending and taxes so more dollars can stay where they’re needed most – here at home.
Also, the governor is handing over the $36 million bill for his gun control law, which could, instead, be used for a number of things - like economic development to save places like Remington Arms, or ensuring our rural, upstate schools have their fair share of education aid. Certainly, we could better use those funds to meet real pressing needs rather than to spy on law-abiding citizens.
The item needed most to truly revitalize our communities is missing from this budget: unfunded mandate relief. Since the budget, as policy, has such a significant impact on the future of the state and all its residents, surely we must do the right thing and include significant reforms of state mandates.
For years, Albany has been on a spending spree, asking for costly program after costly program, but insisting that our schools and local governments pay the bill. Nearly 90 percent of the local property tax levy is spent on nine state mandates. These mandates are the reason property taxes have skyrocketed and why your local services are suffering and have been at risk of cuts and underfunding. Removing this burden will help revitalize our communities.
Considering the impact and significance the budget has on our successes or failures, we must ensure that we put in place every policy that will thrust us forward toward a better future, full of opportunities and economic growth. These challenges will be foremost on our minds this week as we return to Albany to resume the legislative session.
As always, feel free to contact me with ideas, questions or concerns on this topic or any other legislative matter. I can be reached at either my Johnstown office at 518-762-6486, my Herkimer office at 315-866-1632 or by e-mail at butlerm@assembly.state.ny.us. I hope to hear from you soon.