Lawmakers worked late last night to ensure that New York State has a budget as we start our new fiscal year tomorrow, April 1st. Reactions to the budget are mixed but everyone including lawmakers themselves, are agreed that the work in Albany is far from over.
The final budget increases education funding by $272 million over the executive budget proposal, including $230 million for general support to public schools, bringing the total to $19.6 billion in the 2011-12 school year. The State Assembly will now likely focus their energy on an ethics reform bill, re-approving rent regulations for NYC and a cap on property taxes. The Senate will likely turn to pension reform and reducing the cost of unfunded state mandates on municipalities.
But we will continue to fight for our youngest citizens!
In addition to the Human Services Committee details announced earlier this week, the Universal Prekindergarten (UPK) program will be funded at $384 million in 2011-12 and 2012-13.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds are now gone and we will have to struggle to account for $48m loss, as well as the return of Infant Toddler Project to pre-ARRA funding levels.
Child Care Resource and Referral funding is maintained at $22,034,000.
Thank you for all of your advocacy efforts during this budget season and please be ready to take action as we move on in the legislative session. Your stories concerning the impact that cuts have on your programs are a powerful tool to reach lawmakers. We will continue to keep you informed and please do not hesitate to express your questions and concerns.
For more information contact Sue Dale-Hall, CEO at the Child Development Council (sue@childdevelopmentcouncil.org ) or Jessica Klos, Policy Associate at the Early Care & Learning Council (JKlos@earlycareandlearning.org )
609 West Clinton Street Ithaca, New York 14850
Phone: (607) 273 - 0259 Fax: (607) 273 - 3141
© Child Development Council. All Rights Reserved. By AWP
