Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele, Jr. (I, D, WF-Sag Harbor) announced introduction of the Assembly’s “Families First” state budget proposal he helped craft (E.203). The measure is expected to be taken up Thursday. The plan increases funding for education, creates jobs and helps ensure economic security for all New Yorkers by raising the minimum wage and providing much-needed tax relief.

“New Yorkers are hardworking, innovative, compassionate people, and the Assembly’s budget proposal reflects these values. It builds on the progress that New York has made and invests in our future,” said Assemblyman Thiele. “Our plan is fiscally responsible, yet it provides robust funding for vital programs so all New Yorkers have the chance to get ahead.”

Increasing funding for our schools

The Assembly’s budget proposal provides a total of $23.95 billion in education funding, an increase of $1.8 billion for the 2015-16 school year. That’s over $830 million more than the governor’s budget proposal and represents the largest increase in school aid since 2008-09. It also increases Foundation Aid by over $1 billion for the 2015-16 school year, the largest increase in Foundation Aid since 2008-09. The plan provides $456 million in restoration to the Gap Elimination Adjustment (GEA) based in part on district and student need, growth in enrollment, growth in the number of students who are English-language learners and the disproportionate impact of GEA reductions. Assemblyman Thiele, however, supports a full elimination of the GEA.

“The key to the future success of our children and the economic security of our families is a good education,” said Thiele. “Giving our children the best education possible means providing schools and teachers with the resources they need to succeed, and that’s exactly what the Assembly’s budget proposal would do.”

The Assembly’s budget proposal would remove the governor’s requirement that increases in school aid be tied to his proposed changes to the teacher evaluation system, the takeover of failing schools, changes to charter schools – including an increased cap on charter schools – and changes to teacher preparation, certification, dismissal and tenure.

“I am disappointed the governor linked increased funding for our schools to programs that will direct money away from our traditional public schools,” said Assemblyman Thiele. “Moreover, the governor’s failure to release school aid runs along with the executive budget proposal places a real burden on school districts and the state’s taxpayers as schools try to prepare budgets for voter approval in May.”

Investing in TAP, other college opportunity programs

To help more students afford college, the Assembly budget would increase the maximum possible TAP award by $150, bringing the total award to $5,315 per full-time equivalent (FTE) student. It would also increase both SUNY community college base aid funding by $50 for a total of $2,547 per FTE student.

Lowering taxes for homeowners and renters

The Assembly has long championed the implementation of a “circuit breaker” to provide families with much-needed property tax relief. The plan would tie property taxes to household income for homeowners, instead of basing the taxes on property value, and would be the first time in recent years that property taxes are actually cut. The circuit breaker credit would also be extended to renters, with a portion of annual rent tied to household income. The Assembly has once again included the circuit breaker in this year’s budget proposal and welcomes the governor’s support.

“East End families have been crippled by sky-high property taxes and housing costs for far too long,” Thiele said. “It’s time our families pay based on what they can afford, not their property value.”

Preserving public health programs

A strong commitment to public health has long been a top priority for the Assembly. The 2015-16 budget plan restores $32.5 million for health programs, including:

• A $21.4 million restoration for 39 discrete health programs that would have had their funding cut and been restructured into five grant pools;
• $3.5 million for public health programs eliminated in the governor’s budget proposal, including $750,000 to support family planning services;
• $3.3 million for the Enhancing the Quality of Adult Living (EQUAL) program to improve quality of care for residents of adult care facilities;
• an additional $1.5 million for the Spinal Cord Injury Research Program to encourage innovative research into the treatment and cure of paralysis and damage caused by spinal cord injury; and
• $500,000 for the prescription drug discount card to help offset the staggering cost of prescription medications.

Supporting our veterans

The Assembly budget proposal doubles Supplemental Burial Benefits for veterans for a total of $400,000. It also restores $100,000 for the Veterans Justice Project, which provides a broad range of civil legal services for veterans and their families, and $100,000 for SAGE Veterans’ Project, an organization that provides support and guidance to veterans impacted by the military’s policies regarding the LGBT community.

“The brave men and women who put their lives on the line to protect our freedom deserve the very best when they are home. Providing funding for such vital programs is the least we can do to show respect and appreciation for their service to our country,” said Assemblyman Thiele.

Supporting small businesses

In addition to reducing the income tax rate for small businesses from 6.5 percent to 2.5 percent for those that register as C Corps, the Assembly’s proposal restores $365,000 in additional funding for the Minority- and Women-owned Business Development and Lending Program, for a total of $1 million. The Assembly also supports increasing participation in state contracting to Minority- and Women-owned Business Enterprises (MWBEs) from 25 percent to 30 percent.

“Supporting MWBEs is crucial to the success of our overall economy. We must work to ensure these businesses have every opportunity to thrive,” said Thiele, Chairman of the Assembly’s Small Business Committee.

Strengthening transportation systems

The Assembly budget proposal increases funding for upstate transit systems by $15 million for a total of $194 million and establishes a board to make recommendations to ensure growth and fiscal stability among these systems. Additionally, the proposal maintains the Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program (CHIPs) and the Marchiselli Highway Improvement Program and sets forth an additional $60 million for extreme weather recovery across the state.

“Maintaining our transportation infrastructure is vitally important. After the winter we’ve had here in New York, it’s imperative that we repair our roadways and bridges. Making sure our local governments have this funding will enable us to make these repairs to keep our families and communities safe,” said Thiele. “Good, reliable transportation systems support our economy by creating jobs through improvement projects that then enable people to get to and from work safely.”

Investing in agriculture

“New York’s agriculture industry is currently booming and providing a major boost to our overall economy,” said Thiele. “The Assembly’s budget proposal continues to support our farmers and builds on the progress we’ve made, so our farms can continue to grow and thrive.”

The Assembly budget proposal restores funding to the following programs:

• Farm Viability Institute: $1.1 million;
• Agribusiness Child Development: $1 million;
• NY Apple Growers Association: $544,000;
• Cornell Veterinary “Core” Diagnostic Lab: $500,000;
• NY Wine and Grape Foundation: $250,000;
• Cornell University Rabies program: $200,000;
• Maple Producers Association: $125,000;
• Local fairs: $160,000;
• Tractor Rollover Protection Program: $100,000; and
• Farm Family Assistance (NY FarmNet): $100,000.

The proposal also accepts the governor’s $50 million plan to fund capital improvements to the state fairgrounds, and includes up to $5 million for infrastructure projects at county and local fairgrounds.

In recent years, the Assembly has passed new laws to help revitalize agriculture in New York by promoting the beer, wine, cider and distilled spirits industries (Ch. 406 of 2014) and creating a license for farm cideries to expand cider-making opportunities (Ch. 384 of 2013). The Assembly’s budget support for the maple and apple industries has helped increase production and expand sales over the last few years.

“Our beer, wine, cider and distilled spirits industries have achieved tremendous success so far, and the Assembly is committed to ensuring their profitability continues,” said Thiele. “The recent boom in sales of award-winning, locally made products is a clear example of what can be achieved when we support our farms and invest in New York agriculture.”

Protecting our environment

The Assembly budget proposal provides for a $10 million increase in funding for the Environmental Protection Fund – for a total of $182 million – and a 10-year extension of the Brownfield Cleanup program, which helps redevelop contaminated properties. It also includes an increase to the financing authorization for the Superfund Program – which helps clean up contaminated properties – by $1 billion over a 10-year period. Further, in response to the increased volume of crude oil being transported through New York State, the Assembly’s proposal strengthens the Oil Spill Fund and authorizes $2.1 million to be used for prevention and cleanup training.

“In the Assembly, we’re committed to conserving our environment. That’s why we included comprehensive programs and funding in this year’s budget to tackle pressing environmental issues,” said Thiele.

Safeguarding consumers’ rights

The Assembly has continually made it a priority to ensure consumers have a voice and are protected against unfair business practices. That’s why the Assembly budget proposal includes $1 million for intervenor funding for consumer advocacy in utility rate cases before the Public Service Commission.

The proposal also includes $500,000 to create the New York State Office of the Utility Consumer Advocate to serve as an independent advocate and appear on behalf of New York ratepayers in state and federal regulatory proceedings.

“The creation of a Utility Consumer Advocate would not only give consumers a voice but would also greatly increase accountability within the process,” Assemblyman Thiele said. “It’s time New Yorkers stop being taken advantage of by powerful utility providers and are given fair prices.”