Earlier this month, Assembly Minority members unveiled a clock set to count down the time left until the constitutionally required state budget deadline. I am pleased that we will not see it reach zero. For the first time since 1984, New York has a state budget in place by April 1. The public and open process implemented this year, which included input from rank and file legislators from both sides of the aisle, has gotten us this result and it is a system that must be continued in the future.

I am also pleased that the budget we passed includes specific long-advocated Assembly Minority initiatives. The adoption of a Single Sales Factor system to tax companies based solely on New York State sales will greatly enhance our business climate. According to the Business Council of New York, this change will help an estimated 11,000 companies and add more than 130,000 jobs.

The extension and expansion of the Empire Zone program will also make our state a more attractive place to do business. This program is a proven economic catalyst, and the prospect of spreading it to every county in the state only improves our chances for keeping the jobs we have and creating new ones.

The Medicaid cap approved today is also a positive first step towards providing relief for our county governments and municipalities. More, however, will have to be done in the future to contain costs and spare property tax payers the enormous burden of Medicaid.

I am further encouraged that the 2005-06 budget increases school aid to every school district in the state and maintains reimbursement for expense-driven programs, BOCES and Special Ed. Additionally, the Legislature’s budget provides more discretion for school districts through Flex Aid and boosts the Building Aid Ratio for high-needs school districts.

Of course, it takes more than one on-time budget to make up for a 20-year trend. Assembly Minority members will continue to fight for additional reforms that will ensure a budget that is on-time, every time.