NEW STATE BUDGET DELIVERS FOR NEW YORKERS

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Earlier this year, I established my priorities for the State budget -- providing property tax relief, more equitable distribution of school aid, creating business tax cuts to create jobs, and restoring funding cuts to hospitals and nursing homes.

I fought hard for these issues because they are important to the people in my district, and I refused to back down. I insisted that that property taxpayers receive even larger direct property tax rebate checks than last year, that hundreds of school districts get a fair increase in aid, that hospitals and nursing homes be spared from devastating cuts, and that businesses get real tax relief to create jobs.

And now I am pleased to inform you that this budget delivers on all of these important issues.

The newly adopted state budget accomplishes the goals that I have fought for all year, including:

* $1.3 billion in direct property tax rebate checks - most of the checks will be double the size of last years;

* A school aid increase of $1.8 billion, the largest school aid increase in State history, that is distributed fairly and equitably throughout the State;

* Restoration of almost $400 million in proposed cuts to hospitals and nursing homes; with federal funds about two-thirds of the proposed health care cuts will be restored;

* $150 million in business tax cuts -- growing to $300 million -- in targeting corporations and manufacturers; and

* Rejection of about $600 to $700 million in proposed tax and fee increases.


Tax Relief -- Property Tax Rebates
I fought for direct property tax relief because families simply can�t afford their property taxes and seniors are being taxed out of their homes.

A Global Insights study found that local taxes per household in New York ($6,377) are the highest in the country and more than two times the national median ($2,952). A Tax Foundation report found all six of New York downstate suburban counties were in the top 25 highest property taxed counties in the country.

The Governor�s budget eliminated property tax rebate checks. My colleagues and I in the Senate fought not only to keep them - but to increase direct property tax relief and to expand the number of families included in the plan so more people in the highest taxed school districts receive rebate checks.

Specifically:
* The budget will provide $1.3 billion this year in direct property tax relief - targeting middle class families (up to $250K).

* Most rebate checks for the average taxpayer will be double the amount of last year�s checks -- and they will increase over the next two years.

* Senior citizens will continue to receive enhanced property tax rebate checks.

Because of the Senate Majority�s efforts, the budget will give money back to taxpayers -- it�s their money and we should let them, not the government, decide how to spend it.

Education
I�m proud to announce that my fight to ensure an equitable distribution of school aid was successful. Unlike the Governor�s budget, the final budget will ensure fair distribution of school aid across the State. It targets needy school districts, but doesn�t shortchange other districts in the state.

My colleagues and I in the Senate Majority fought for additional school aid for districts with high tax burdens and to reduce by about half the number of school districts that would be fixed at 3 percent aid increases (permanent save harmless). As a result of our efforts, teachers and school districts will have the resources they need to ensure every child will have the opportunity for the best possible education.

The new budget will increase school aid by $1.8 billion - this represents the largest school aid increase in the history of New York. The record increase in school aid, combined with $1.3 billion in new direct property tax rebates is a double-win for property taxpayers in this budget.

The budget also authorizes 100 more charter schools (50 in NYC, 50 in the rest of the state) and adds $21 million to help districts impacted financially by charter schools.

This education budget meets the mandate of the Court of Appeals decision in the CFE case, and provide school districts with a strong increase in aid that properly reflects the needs of students and taxpayers.

Health Care
Throughout the budget process, I supported real reform to fight fraud and ensure our health care system can be more cost-efficient and deliver health care more efficiently. I also rejected the proposed $1.3 billion in health care cuts proposed by Governor Eliot Spitzer in his Executive Budget proposal. The proposed cuts threatened the quality of health care for families throughout our region, and would have taken millions of dollars from local hospitals and nursing homes, while raising health care taxes.

I fought for affordable restorations to preserve access to health care, stop new health care taxes, protect jobs to ensure quality patient care is available for our families, and protect patient care programs such as disease prevention, early detection screening, and health education.

The final budget addresses real reform and avoids the painful cuts that would have prevented caring, dedicated professionals from receiving the best training, facilities and equipment necessary to helping keep our families safe and healthy.

Specifically, the budget:
* Restores critically important funding to hospitals and nursing homes because the Senate put patients first and fought to protect access to health care, save caregiver jobs and protect patient services;

* Restores $400 million in State funds - when combined with federal funds, about two-thirds of the Governor�s proposed health care cuts are restored;

* Includes important reforms to fight Medicaid fraud and crack down Medicaid thieves -- and reform that will make our health care system more efficient and effective;

* Expands the Child Health Plus program to cover 400,000 uninsured children -- and streamlines and simplifies enrollment to help uninsured adults and children get health care coverage; and

* Provides $600 million ($100 million annually for 6 years) will go to stem cell research.

Business Tax Cuts
The Governor�s proposed budget included no tax relief for business growth and job creation at all - it was only included in the final budget at the insistence of my colleagues and I in the Senate Majority.

The State budget includes a total of $150 million in business tax relief that will grow to $300 million. We also fought to reject about $700 million in increased taxes and fees proposed by the Governor.

The Senate pushed for business tax cuts and was successful in getting a $75 million across-the-board tax rate cut for all corporations. The budget also includes $75 million in targeted tax cuts for manufacturing businesses - which is critically important to the helping the Upstate economy.

Other economic development measures included in the budget:
* $300 million for a nanotechnology initiative to attract cutting edge economic development;

* $100 million a year for five years for emerging technologies and stem cell research;

* A new assistance plan for struggling dairy farmers - up to $30 million;

* $5 million for a plan to expand access to Internet broadband; and

* The budget does NOT include an expansion of the bottle bill which would have increases consumers� grocery bills by $100 million.

The Senate originally proposed a much broader package of tax cuts and assistance that targeted small businesses -- we couldn�t win the support of the Governor and Assembly, but we will keep fighting for tax cuts to help small business grow and succeed.

 

 

 

 

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