2012-2013 Budget

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Ways and Means Chair Herman D. Farrell, Jr., today released the Assembly Majority's Conference Committee Summary for the 2012-2013 budget. This publication, found here, outlines the $132.6 billion fiscal plan by agency.

"In many ways, this year's state budget is good news for New Yorkers," said Silver. "While we are holding the line on spending, and staying within a two percent spending cap with no new fees or taxes, we are funding vital programs, including the promised four percent increases in education and healthcare programs."

Thank you, Lieutenant Governor Duffy. Thank you, as always, for your efforts with this budget and your work on behalf of the economy of the State of New York.

Governor, once again, I commend you on behalf of the Assembly Majority first, for giving the Legislature an excellent template from which to commence our work and second, for your steady leadership in guiding us to another early budget.

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, Assemblyman Richard Gottfried, Co-Chair of the Joint Conference Subcommittee on Health and Aging, and Assemblyman Felix Ortiz, Co-Chair of the Joint Conference Subcommittee on Mental Hygiene, announced today that a budget agreement has been reached that provides vital funding to protect New York's most vulnerable patients and ensures working families have access to quality health care by providing $56 million in additional support for health and mental hygiene programs.

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, Assemblyman Richard Gottfried, Co-Chair of the Joint Conference Subcommittee on Health and Aging, and Assemblyman Felix Ortiz, Co-Chair of the Joint Conference Subcommittee on Mental Hygiene, announced today that a budget agreement has been reached that provides vital funding to protect New York's most vulnerable patients and ensures working families have access to quality health care by providing $56 million in additional support for health and mental hygiene programs.

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Transportation Committee Chair David Gantt announced that SFY 2012-2013 Budget legislation approved by the Assembly will allocate $4.5 billion to fund highway, road and bridge projects, and the maintenance, operation and repair of the state's transportation infrastructure.

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Assemblyman Keith Wright, Co-Chair of the Joint Conference Subcommittee on Human Services, announced today that a budget agreement has been reached to restore more than $50 million for workforce development and human services programs and boost the public assistance grant increase to ten percent.

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Education Chair Catherine Nolan today announced the SFY 2012-2013 Budget agreement allocates $20.3 billion for General Support for Public Schools, $805 million above School Year (SY) 2011-2012, including $751 million more in total funding for formula based aids. This is a 3.9 percent increase, which is the first year-to-year increase in three years.

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, Economic Development Committee Chair Robin Schimminger and Assemblywoman Crystal Peoples-Stokes announced the SFY 2012-13 Budget agreement, designates the University at Buffalo as a New York State Center of Excellence in Materials Informatics.

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, Health Committee Chair Richard N. Gottfried, and Higher Education Committee Chair Deborah Glick today praised a measure included in the 2012-13 State Budget to better protect limited English proficient (LEP) consumers by requiring translation and interpretation services be provided at pharmacies statewide.

Today Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Higher Education Committee Chair Deborah Glick announced $27.8 million in additional funding for the SUNY hospitals, and an appropriation of $3,485,000 to restore the Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP).

The $27.8 million is to be distributed equally among the three SUNY hospitals. This funding helps these teaching hospitals deliver specialized, high-level care to tens of thousands of patients a year, and educate hundreds of medical professionals.

Speaker Sheldon Silver announced today that New York State will no longer collect sales tax on clothing and footwear under $110. The sales tax exemption will begin April 1, 2012.

"We must do everything we can to ease the burden on working families," said Silver. "Families are struggling with the choice of paying for food, rent or clothing. This tax exemption will provide much needed relief to our residents."

Speaker Sheldon Silver and Amy Paulin, chair of the Assembly Committee on Children and Families, announced today increased aid to support services for New York's children.

"We need to do more to protect and support our children," said Silver. "As part of this budget, the Assembly has renewed its commitment to our most vulnerable population. We are putting services in place to ensure that our children can grow in a safe and nurturing environment. We are investing in our children and in our future."

Maintaining a focus on job creation and promoting support for working families, Speaker Sheldon Silver and Assemblyman Robin Schimminger, Chair of the Assembly Committee on Economic Development, announced today significant investments in New York's long-term economic growth.

Continuing the campaign for community college support he began in his remarks at the opening of the legislative session, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Higher Education Committee Chair Deborah Glick today announced the SFY 2012-13 State budget will increase state aid to SUNY and CUNY community colleges by $39.1 million (AY).

Listed below are the bills included in the budget agreement reached by Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver with Governor Andrew Cuomo and Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos:

Speaker Sheldon Silver and Assemblyman Vito Lopez, Chair of the Assembly Housing committee, announced today that a budget agreement has been reached to increase funding for housing programs that will benefit the working families and communities of New York.

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (second from left) and Senate Majority Leader Dean G. Skelos (first from left) convened the 2012-2013 General Budget Conference Committee to take reports from several joint budget subcommittees.

Continuing to focus on a path to the middle class for struggling New Yorkers, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Ways and Means Committee Chairman Herman D. Farrell, Jr. today released details of the Assembly's 2012-13 budget proposal that includes a tax cut for low wage workers, increased support for community colleges, and a resumption of Foundation Aid for New York's neediest schools.

The $132.7 billion budget proposal provides for no change in All Funds spending from the State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2011-12 level. The Assembly plan's General Fund spending is $55 million below the Executive proposal, with State Funds spending growing by 1.78 percent above SFY 2011-12 levels, and is $150 million above the Executive proposal. The Assembly plan closes the estimated $3.5 billion gap for SFY 2012-13 in a prudent and responsible manner and lives up to our commitments to increase health and education spending for the coming fiscal year.

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Assembly Ways and Means Committee Chair Herman D. Farrell, Jr., today unveiled the Assembly Majority's annual Revenue and Economic Reports for New York State.

These documents are critical to the Assembly's understanding of the economy and the house's ability to work with Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the Senate towards reaching an agreement on a timely and fiscally prudent budget for New Yorkers.

Senate Finance Committee Chair John A. DeFrancisco and Assembly Ways and Means Committee Chair Herman D. Farrell, Jr., today announced the Joint Legislative Hearing Schedule on the 2012-2013 Executive Budget proposal.

These hearings, each of which focuses on a programmatic area, are intended to provide the appropriate legislative committees with public input on the executive budget proposal. The hearings will be available for viewing on the Senate and Assembly websites and the Legislative Channel (available on cable systems throughout the state), but will be preempted when the houses are in session. At the conclusion of the legislative deliberations, televised coverage of the hearings will resume.