Upon first review of the governor’s executive budget proposal, I believe it doesn’t do enough to meet basic obligations and promises made to the public. On the surface, the document doesn’t seem particularly controversial; it even stays within the two percent spending cap. I do, however, have reservations about a few key items.

Earlier this month, the governor shared his tax relief plan for New Yorkers, which utilizes a property tax freeze for communities whose governments stay within the two percent property tax cap. Local governments would then have to employ consolidation and use other drastic measures to maintain this tax freeze for homeowners.

A property tax freeze is not enough. Homeowners and job creators deserve a real cut to their property taxes. And without relief from unfunded mandates - the very policies that have caused property taxes to rise in the first place - the governor is setting our municipalities up to fail unless they engage in drastic consolidation efforts.

A few years ago, the governor promised unfunded mandate relief, which is the key to giving municipalities the freedom to actually lower property taxes for good. In my opinion, he didn’t follow through on his promise. I haven’t seen much in his budget proposal that would provide meaningful mandate relief.

The governor also outlined several education proposals like full-day Pre-K, after-school programs and teacher excellence awards. These are fine and well, but the state is still failing to keep its minimal obligation to students. In the 2011-12 Enacted Budget, school aid was cut to close the budget deficit. New York still has yet to pay those funds back. Combine that with a school aid formula that shortchanges upstate, rural schools and it becomes clear that New York is not meeting its obligations.

Additionally, the governor proposed a program to use your tax dollars to fund political campaigns. The last thing we need is for your tax dollars to pay for more political phone calls and mail. The governor is using this as a cure-all for political corruption, and the irony is that this plan was modeled after the program in New York City, the home of dozens of convicted, crooked politicians.

We should be investing the minimal resources we have into economic development and job creation in the state, as well as repairing our crumbling roads, bridges and sewers, reducing our growing state debt and providing meaningful and lasting tax relief. New York must get back to the basics and evaluate whether or not it is meeting its obligations to its citizens. As I review the budget and offer my suggestions, I will be keeping this in mind and fighting for your needs.

If you have concerns about the budget, I would like to hear them. Please call my office at 493-3909 or email me at blankenbushk@assembly.state.ny.us.