Dear Friends:
On Sunday, March 31st, the State Legislature adopted a balanced, on-time state budget. While budgets always involve compromise, we made substantial changes to better serve our communities, protect taxpayers and expand our democratic institutions.
I am proud to say that the approved budget includes significant increases in Foundation Aid funding for high-need school districts throughout the state; restoration of AIM funding to support local villages and towns; and a permanent 2% property tax cap which will save residents billions of dollars statewide.
Our efforts to increase funding for major budgetary priorities such as education, healthcare, and infrastructure were curtailed by an unexpected shortfall in revenue in the fourth quarter. Despite this limitation, the 2019-20 NYS Budget moves the state forward on several key investments and legislative priorities.
We secured a $618 million increase in Foundation Aid funding, nearly double the Executive Budget Proposal and targeted the highest need school districts with the increase. The passage of a permanent property tax cap, full AIM funding, and restoration of healthcare cuts are major victories for the state. We passed historic changes to our criminal justice system in the areas of bail, speedy trial, and discovery. The 2019-20 NYS Budget also included major victories for the environment by enacting a statewide plastic bag ban, a commitment to revitalizing our transportation systems, and increasing voter access by funding voting reforms.
Though I know there is more we need to do, particularly in the area of equitable funding for public schools throughout the state, and though I did not agree with every provision in the final budget, on balance, the 2019-20 NYS Budget includes major changes that will improve the lives of all New Yorkers.
2019-20 NYS BUDGET
PUBLIC EDUCATION IS THE BACKBONE OF DEMOCRACY
It is my honor to serve as the Chair of the State Senate Education Committee during the 2019 Legislative Session. During the past few months, I have traveled throughout the state to meet with Superintendents, school administrators and teachers, parents, students and community members, and I know that the state must do more for every school district to be able to provide a sound basic education for every child. We have made significant strides in the 2019-20 NYS Budget, and it is our job as legislators to fight for more. The budget includes:
- $618 million increase in Foundation Aid statewide, nearly double the Executive Budget Proposal:
- Seventy percent of the increased funding is going to high-need school districts.
- Total statewide education funding reaches a record $27.9 billion.
- $15 million increase in statewide Pre-K funding, for a total of $849 million.
- $45 million for the Empire State After-School Programs
- $97 million for libraries statewide, an add of $5 million above the Executive proposal.
- $34.4 million for school lunch programs.
- $9 million increase to expand Early College High Schools.
PROTECTING TAXPAYERS WHILE SUPPORTING MUNICIPALITIES & COMMUNITIES
The federal cap on the SALT deduction has likely burdened Westchester County property owners more than any other County in the state. The adopted budget delivers to towns and villages nearly $4 million in funding through AIM, among other measures to ease the burden on local property taxpayers:
- The adopted budget includes a permanent 2 percent property tax cap expected to save property taxpayers nearly $190 billion dollars over the next decade, with anticipated adjustments to address BOCES’ capital.
- The Legislature's successful restoration of the $60 million in Aid & Incentives to Municipalities (AIM) funding in the adopted budget restored almost $4 million ($3,832,255) in AIM funding for Westchester County towns and villages.
- $438 million statewide for the Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS) in capital funding to repave local roads and highways.
- $2.2 million to support the Westchester County Police and ease burden on county taxpayers.
STRENGTHENING DEMOCRACY & VOTER PARTICIPATION
Early in the 2019 Legislative Session, I was proud to vote in favor of historic voting reforms to increase voter participation in New York State. The 2019-20 NYS Budget provides the necessary funding to implement the voting reforms without putting the burden on county taxpayers:
- The adopted budget includes $10 million in local assistance for early voting and $14.5 million in funding for e-poll books.
- This year's budget also authorizes up to $20 million for outreach and education efforts to ensure all New Yorkers are counted in the 2020 census, which drives federal funds to our communities.
- The budget includes the creation of a public financing commission with power to implement public campaign financing for legislative and statewide offices.
- Findings are due December 1, 2019 and will be binding unless modified by law within 20 days.
PROTECTING GRASSROOTS ORGANIZING
- The adopted budget protects grassroots organizations and local activists by rejecting the Executive’s proposal of unduly & burdensome filing requirements. I am relieved that parents and PTAs should not be burdened with filing lobbying requirements.
SUPPORTING NEW YORK BUSINESSES
The enacted state budget supports New York business growth and job creation throughout the state. This budget demonstrates a commitment to encouraging the continued growth of Minority and Women Owned businesses. The enacted state budget includes:
- Investing $4 million for the Workforce Development Institute.
- Major investments to steer state and local resources to community banks and credit unions, which will help provide additional lending access to underserved communities.
- Allocating $365,000 for the Minority and Women Owned Business Development and Lending Program.
SUPPORTING HIGHER EDUCATION
The adopted budget provides extensive and critical funding for SUNY and CUNY, including:
- SUNY and CUNY students whose families make up to $125,000 annually will now be eligible to apply for tuition-free college as the Excelsior Scholarship Program enters its third year.
- $27 million for students covered by the Jose R. Peralta DREAM Act.
ADVANCING ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS
The enacted state budget includes a strong commitment to address climate change and protect our natural resources:
- Ban on single use plastic bags, and creates a local opt-in for a five-cent fee on paper bags, with 40 percent of the generated revenue going to local efforts to provide reusable bags for low and fixed-income consumers, and 60 percent of the generated revenue going to the State's Environmental Protection Fund.
- $500 million of additional dedicated funding for clean water infrastructure, for a total of $3 billion, to provide major improvements in public health by funding improvement projects.
- $300 million for the Environmental Protection Fund, including a proposal requiring certain food scrap generators to separate, store, and transport food scraps to an organics recycle.
ESTABLISHING THE WESTCHESTER COUNTY RENEWABLE ENERGY & ENERGY EFFICIENCY RESOURCE PROGRAM
Following Con Edison’s announcement of a moratorium on new natural gas connections in certain areas of Westchester County, it is evident that we must do more to reduce energy consumption and shift energy use to renewable sources.
- The adopted budget establishes the Westchester County Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Resource Program. Expected to launch within 90 days after the budget is passed, the program will work in tandem with NYSERDA to promote the installation of renewable energy resources and energy efficiencies in Westchester County.
- Click here for an announcement of $250,000,000 in grants to promote energy efficiency in areas affected by the moratorium announced by Con Edison on March 14, 2019.
INVESTING IN SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT, HEALTHCARE, HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS & WORKERS
The enacted NYS Budget provides essential funding for New Yorker’s health care needs and essential medical care providers. The enacted state budget:
- Implements the federal Affordable Care Act and the New York Health Care Exchange into State law.
- The enacted budget restores $550 million in Medicaid Cuts including:
- $222 million in claw back from rate increases for Hospitals and Nursing Homes;
- $138 million in indigent care pool payments to certain hospitals; and
- $190 million across the board rate cuts.
- Provides $16 million enhanced safety net hospitals investment, including St. John’s Riverside in Yonkers and Montefiore Mount Vernon Hospital.
- Provides $15 million for Expanded In-Home Services for the Elderly (EISEP) to reduce waiting lists.
- In a major victory for those struggling with addiction, the budget doubled the number of days of inpatient “substance use disorder treatment”, from 14 to 28.
- Adopting a salary raise of 2% under the “Be Fair to Direct Care” campaign to increase wages for those who provide care to the most vulnerable.
- Improvements to the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP) with no interruption in service.
- Over $3.8 million for School Based Health Clinics.
- Additional state funds for research and programs to combat diseases including Sickle Cell, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Lupus.
- Mandates insurance coverage for in-vitro fertilization and egg-freezing.
INVESTING IN PUBLIC TRANSIT
Public transportation is critical to economic development and remains the only way for many people to get to work, do their shopping, or go to school. The Bee-Line Bus System serves over 30 million passengers annually, making it second only to the MTA in ridership.
- The budget provides an additional $4.2 million in operating funds for the Bee-Line Bus System, for a total of $61.5 million.
- The budget creates a new system of Central Business District Tolling in Midtown Manhattan to achieve a sustainable funding solution to meet the capital needs of the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA). Under this program, electronic tolling devices will be installed in Manhattan (south of 60th Street). The program establishes a six-member review board to advise and make recommendations on tolls, exemptions, and credits.
- At Senate urging, ten percent of the revenues from the program will be dedicated to capital projects of Metro-North.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM
The changes to our criminal justice system included in this budget strike a sensible balance between ensuring public safety and eliminating the unnecessary detention of persons prior to trial, ensuring they are not detained because they are low-income and lack the financial resources to meet bail. The adopted budget:
- Eliminates cash bail and pre-trial detention for misdemeanors and non-violent felonies to ensure that no New Yorker is stuck in jail awaiting trial simply because of their inability to post bail.
- Ensures defendants do not languish in jail waiting years for a trial by requiring that misdemeanors are resolved within 90 days and felonies within 180 days.
- Reforms discovery to require that both prosecutors and defendants share all information in their possession well in advance of trial.
LEGAL SERVICES OF THE HUDSON VALLEY
I am pleased that we are giving robust support to Legal Services of Hudson Valley, which is a key contributor to providing legal services to New Yorkers who would otherwise struggle to pay for help with a variety of matters such as housing, veterans issues, and domestic violence.
- $400,000 Housing and Kinship Caregiver Legal Services.
- $200,000 Veterans and Military Families Advocacy Project Funds.
- $152,000 Legal Services Assistance Fund.
- $90,000 Domestic Violence legal service project.
SUPPORTING NON-PROFITS IN THE COMMUNITY
Many of our County’s most important not-for-profits are supported in the budget, including:
- $1.6 million for Displaced Homemaker Program
- $1.25 million for the United Way’s 2-1-1 Program
- $750,000 for the New York State Alliance of Boys and Girls Clubs
- $400,000 for New York State YMCA Foundation
- $250,000 for ALS Greater NY Association
- $250,000 for the Association of New York State Youth Bureaus
- $225,000 for Westchester County Youth Bureau
- $200,000 for Westchester Jewish Community Services
- $100,000 for Youth Theatre Interactions
- $90,000 for Make the Road New York
- $80,000 for Federation of Italian American Organizations
- $46,000 My Sister's Place
I appreciate the input of so many of my constituents during this budget process. Your calls, emails, visits, postcards and strong opinions helped shape my advocacy, and I value that greatly. I am proud of what we achieved in a difficult fiscal environment, and look forward to doing my best to serve you with energy, passion and respect.
Sincerely,
