Assemblyman Jim Bacalles (R,C,I-Corning) released the following statement today after the Assembly Minority Conference held a press conference to outline their proposal to close New York's $3.2 billion budget deficit.

"Since early this fall, New York State has had to face the fact that it may reach the point of insolvency this December. However, as we now enter the second week of a Special Legislative Session, the Governor and Legislative Majority leaders continue to stall on how to properly solve the budget deficit in meetings behind closed doors," stated Bacalles.

"So far, the only answer the Governor has to the $3.2 billion budget deficit is to make drastic cuts to education and healthcare funding. These cuts are unnecessary and would be detrimental to the state," the Assemblyman continued.

The following is a list of some of the ideas proposed by the Assembly Minority Conference to properly address the current budget gaps without having to make the Governor's proposed cuts:

• Reduce Contract Balances by 5% - estimated savings of $300,000,000
• Reduce State Agency Cash Balances an additional 2.5% (excluding school aid, Medicaid & AIM) - estimated savings of $120,000,000
• Increase SUNY Out of State Tuition (20%) - estimated savings of $134,000,000
• Eliminate Member Item Fund Balances - estimated savings of $130,000,000
• Agency Consolidations - estimated savings of $924,600,000

"Without an immediate solution, the budget deficit will only become larger and place New York State into bankruptcy. It is my hope that our proposals will be adopted to properly address this budget deficit and help prevent any future budget deficits," concluded Bacalles.

Click the links below to view pdfs of the charts showing the Assembly Minority Conference outline for closing the budget deficit.