NYS ZERO GROWTH PROPOSAL UNACCEPTABLE

NYS Capitol Building, Albany, N.Y.

Albany, N.Y.-- CSEA blasted Gov. Andrew Cuomo's proposed zero-growth budget for further undermining state and local operations and the dedicated employees who are doing very difficult work under often hostile circumstances.

In a letter to state agencies, Cuomo's Budget Director Robert Megna told state agencies to assume zero growth in their budget proposals for the next two years. The letter also indicates that there won't be an increase in state aid to localities for two years.

The spending freeze does not apply to health care and education aid, which Cuomo and the state legislature have already pledged to increase by as much as 4 percent for the coming fiscal year. The state faces a $982 million deficit in the 2013-14 budget.