This week, Assemblyman Dave McDonough (R,C,I-Merrick) and his colleagues passed the fourth consecutive on-time state budget. The 2014-15 budget includes funding increases for both primary and secondary education, aid for seniors, relief for property taxpayers and job creators, and several economic development initiatives. However, the budget came up short in several key areas, including funding for local schools and several needed reforms for Common Core.

“This year’s budget took several steps in the right direction for New Yorkers, and I was pleased to see some reforms to two key issues for me: education and taxes,” said McDonough. “The reforms included for Common Core mean our teachers will now have to spend less time teaching to the test, and our students won’t have to fear that test results will haunt them for years to come. I was also pleased that efforts were made to provide tax relief for residents who are struggling under the ever-increasing cost of property taxes. The tax freeze means local governments still will be able to operate while providing temporary relief for those in our community.”

Highlights of this year’s budget include:

- A two-year property tax freeze, which will provide local homeowners whose municipalities and/or school districts have stayed within the property tax cap a personal income tax credit check, equivalent to the amount their property taxes increase compared to the base year rate;

- Numerous reforms to Common Core, including prohibiting scores from appearing on permanent records, protecting student data and increasing testing transparency;

- A restructured phase-out of the New York State 18-a energy tax, which is driving up our electric bills; and

- Expansion of income eligibility for seniors enrolled in the Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage (EPIC) program to include single individuals making up to $75,000 and married couples making up to $100,000, and much more.

“While there were many positive takeaways from this year’s budget, I still would have liked to have seen Long Island school districts receive additional funding, especially in recovering some of the funding which was lost during the GEA in 2010. I also will continue to push for greater reforms to the Common Core system; these were positive first steps, but more needs to be done to ensure our students receive the best education possible,” concluded McDonough.