Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush today voted no on the assembly’s budget proposal, stating that he favors the state senate’s budget proposal more. The assembly’s budget imposes two new taxes and excludes funding for the Tug Hill Commission, while the senate’s budget redistributes money among programs to provide restorations in school aid, agriculture funding, and for the Tug Hill Commission.

“I am pleased that the Assembly Majority recognized the importance of agriculture to the state’s economy and restored funding for the industry. However, I made a pledge of no new taxes, and I intend to keep that promise,” said the assemblyman. “It seems that the senate is being more strategic and mindful of taxpayers’ existing burdens with its budget. The senate is able to restore funding for school aid and agriculture, among other programs, but still ends up with less spending than the governor and the assembly—with no new taxes.”

The Assembly rejects the governor’s proposal for a new $1.2 million competitive grant program, administered by the Department of Agriculture & Markets and replaces it with appropriations for the following programs:

• Farm Viability Institute - $300,000;
• Center for Dairy Excellence - $114,000;
• Local Fairs - $255,000;
• Farm Net - $384,000;
• Integrated Pest Management - $375,000;
• Golden Nematode - $48,000;
• Future Farmers of America - $144,000;
• Ag In the Classroom - $60,000;
• Association of Agriculture Educators - $50,000;
• NYS Apple Growers Association - $155,000; and
• NY Wine & Grape Foundation - $535,000.

In addition, while the Assembly budget restores $200 million in school aid, the governor’s same funding formula is used, which shortchanges the North Country and reduces the region’s fair share of state education aid.

The Assembly Majority also proposes $500 million more in total spending than the executive proposal, as well as $4.9 billion in new taxes, including an extension of the “millionaire’s tax” and the “baby tax”, a $170 million assessment on hospitals for obstetrical care.

“With this new ‘baby tax’, combined with the state estate tax, the Assembly Majority wants to tax families from cradle to grave,” said the Assemblyman.

The Senate, on the other hand, proposes no new taxes but simply reallocates money from other programs to restore funding for agriculture, including $1 million for the Farm Viability Institute, just over $1 million for the Tug Hill Commission, and $263 million more in school aid.

“The Assembly’s budget is simply an opportunity wasted. This budget resolution approves $1 billion in new spending, a $4.9 billion tax hike, and wastes a valuable opportunity to address the budget gap in a fiscally responsible way. I remain optimistic that the governor, assembly and senate can come to an agreement on a budget that does not include tax hikes and that is more fair to upstate and rural New York,” added the Assemblyman.