JIM BACALLES
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Budget Reform
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Assemblyman JIM BACALLES
Budget Reform |
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September 2004 Dear Neighbor: As most of you know, the New York state budget, which is by law due on April 1 each year, has been late for the last 20 years. As a rank-and-file legislator seeking more involvement in the budget process, I am frustrated having witnessed the past nine late budgets. However, I am pleased to announce a solution is on the way which will end this disgraceful tradition of late budgets. Legislators approved a plan this spring which will fix Albany’s dysfunctional budget process. A joint Senate-Assembly Conference Committee, comprised of 10 rank-and-file members, reached an agreement on several important budget reform measures. These reforms will take time to be implemented because they require a change in the state constitution. Any constitutional change requires passage of a resolution in each of two consecutive legislative terms before being submitted for a vote by the people. The Senate and Assembly have accomplished first passage this year together with the required legislation to put this plan into action. Consequently, the residents of New York will be able to vote on this important proposal as early as November 2005, should the governor concur with the implementing legislation. I have highlighted some of the important aspects of the budget reform package for your review. As always, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact my district office at (607) 776-9691.
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Assemblyman Jim Bacalles |
| BUDGET REFORM HIGHLIGHTS | ||||||||
Contingency Budget |
May 1 Fiscal Year |
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| The most substantial and meaningful part of the reform package is the implementation of a contingency budget. The plan would require the enactment of the previous year’s budget if, by the budget deadline, no agreement has been reached for the next fiscal year. | New York is the only state in the United States whose fiscal year begins on April 1. By pushing the start date to May 1, the state government would have better information from the previous year about tax revenue and spending in order to create a better, more efficient budget. | |||||||
Independent Budget Office |
Additional Reserve Funds |
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| Creation of an independent budget office whose task would be forecasting revenue and recommending spending options, as well as providing full cost-benefit analysis of legislative proposals, would greatly aid lawmakers in creation and implementation of a budget. | Reserve funds are an important part of keeping our budget, and state government, afloat. The creation of additional reserve funds, beyond the Tax Stabilization Reserve Fund (TSRF), for contingency reserve and ensuring school aid payments will help New York become more efficient. | |||||||
Education Funding |
Health Care Spending |
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| Too often, when the budget is late, schools and children lose out. To provide school districts with a better forecast of expected state aid, the Legislature would be required to approve education funding in two-year increments, rather than one. | By requiring Health Care Reform Act (HRCA) spending to be included in the budget, it will ensure better budgeting practices and, even more importantly, subject this spending to the audit of the state comptroller. | |||||||
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ASSEMBLYMAN JIM BACALLES WILL HOST “I look forward to meeting with you to discuss those issues of importance to you. Look for details in the media later this month for the date, time and location I will be visiting your community.” – Assemblyman Jim Bacalles |
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