IN A NUTSHELL: WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK IN ALBANY

Governor Cuomo Releases Executive Budget Proposal

Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Executive Budget proposal disproportionately slashes public services by cutting aid to schools, hospitals, nursing homes, and massively cutting funding for state operations.

His budget includes:

•$450 million in state employee savings or layoffs of 9,800 state employees

•Cuts to Medicaid by $2.9 billion, which is over $5 billion when federal matching funds are taken into account. These cuts could mean the elimination of critical health care services and could mean the outright closure of hospitals and nursing homes

•Cuts to schools of $2.8 billion

•Cuts to SUNY of $100 million

•Reduces Aid to Municipalities (AIM) by two percent for cities, towns and villages outside New York City and eliminates AIM for New York City

For a full breakdown of the budget, please click here.

Massive layoffs will be devastating for families and bad for New York’s economy and our community. We urge you to contact your elected officials today.

For more information on how to contact your elected officials, please click here.

Property Tax Cap Passes Senate

The Senate passed Governor Cuomo’s property tax cap bill this week. The bill would create an arbitrary limit on property tax increases for local governments including counties, cities, towns, villages, fire districts, special districts, and school districts.

CSEA opposed the bill over concerns that this legislation would lead to diminished services and will put added stress on municipalities and school districts, while doing nothing to actually lower taxes. The bill will still have to pass through the Assembly before being delivered to the Governor.