FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 10, 2008
ENACTED STATE BUDGET PROVIDES SIGNIFICANT BENEFITS TO THE CAPITAL REGION
Governor David Paterson today announced that the Enacted State Budget contains numerous investments and actions that will benefit the Capital Region, including Albany, Fulton, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, and Washington counties.
“Facing a rapidly deteriorating economy, it was important to ensure that our budget would not be balanced on the backs of local governments,” said Governor Paterson. “The state tightened its own belt so it could continue to provide critical support to the Capital Region.”
Recognizing that support for local government programs is important to alleviate pressure on local property taxes, Governor Paterson made significant reductions to state agency spending – which will grow by only one percent – in order to preserve funding for localities that rely upon state aid. Overall, New York’s local governments, including cities, towns, villages, and school districts, will receive a net positive benefit of $3.0 billion from the state budget.
The Enacted Budget provides $1.2 billion in school aid for the Capital Region, a substantial increase of $105.1 million (10.0 percent). The City of Albany School District will receive $86.6 million in school aid, an increase of $13.2 million (17.9 percent), and the City of Schenectady School District will receive $97.3 million, an increase of $12.0 million (14.1 percent).
Additionally, the budget provides critical funding of $45 million for infrastructure improvements at the Luther Forest Technology Campus in Saratoga County.
Aid and Incentives to Municipalities (AIM) revenue sharing funding will total $58.6 million for the Capital Region, an increase of $4.8 million (8.9 percent). In the City of Albany, AIM funding will total $13.9 million in 2008-09, an increase of $1.6 million (13.3 percent).
Consolidated Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS) funding for Albany County will total $2.06 million, an increase of $218,048 (11.8 percent), and will help fund important infrastructure initiatives. The continued capping of local Medicaid costs and the state takeover of the Family Health Plus program will save local taxpayers in that county $8.2 million in 2008-09.
A summary of budget actions affecting the Capital Region is included below.
SELECTED HIGHLIGHTS FOR CAPITAL DISTRICT REGION
2008-09 ENACTED BUDGET
Capital District Region
- School Aid: Total NYS School Aid to Capital District Region school districts will increase from $1.05 billion in 2007-08 to $1.15 billion in 2008-09, an increase of $105.1 million or 10.2%.
- STAR Property Tax Relief: Total STAR property tax relief to Capital District Region residents will increase from $269.5 million in 2007-08 to $279.9 million in 2008-09, an increase of $10.4 million or 3.8%.
- Aid and Incentives to Municipalities (AIM) Capital Region): Total AIM funding for Capital District Region residents will increase from $53.8 million in 2007-08 to $58.6 million in 2008-09, an increase of $4.8 million or 8.9%.
- Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA): Total State Transit Operating Aid to Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA) will increase from $30.4 million in 2007-08 to $31.6 million in 2008-09, an increase of $1.24 million or 4.1%.
Albany County
- Aid and Incentives to Municipalities (AIM): Total AIM funding for Albany County residents will increase from $17.3 million in 2007-08 to $19.3 million in 2008-09, an increase of $1.9 million or 11.5%.
- Medicaid Cap/FHP Takeover: Projected savings for Albany County for the Medicaid Cap and State takeover of Family Health Plus will total $8.2 million in 2008-09.
- Consolidated Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS): Total CHIPS Funding for Albany County will increase from $1.84 million in 2007-08 to $2.06 million in 2008-09, an increase of $218,048 or 11.8%.
City of Albany
- School Aid: Total NYS School Aid to City of Albany school districts will increase from $73.4 million in 2007-08 to $86.6 million in 2008-09, an increase of $13.2 million or 17.9%.
- Aid and Incentives to Municipalities (AIM): Total AIM funding for City of Albany residents will increase from $12.2 million in 2007-08 to $13.9 million in 2008-09, an increase of $1.6 million or 13.3%.
- Consolidated Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS): Total CHIPS Funding for the City of Albany will increase from $1.08 million in 2007-08 to $1.29 million in 2008-09, an increase of $214,974 or 20.0%.
Rensselaer County
- Medicaid Cap/FHP Takeover: Projected savings for Rensselaer County for the Medicaid Cap and State takeover of Family Health Plus will total $8.2 million in 2008-09.
- Consolidated Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS): Total CHIPS Funding for Rensselaer County will increase from $1.74 million in 2007-08 to $1.98 million in 2008-09, an increase of $242,070 or 13.9%.
Schenectady County
- Aid and Incentives to Municipalities (AIM): Total AIM funding for Schenectady County residents will increase from $11.4 million in 2007-08 to $12.4 million in 2008-09, an increase of $1.0 million or 8.7%.
- Medicaid Cap/FHP Takeover: Projected savings for Schenectady County for the Medicaid Cap and State takeover of Family Health Plus will total $3.7 million in 2008-09.
City of Schenectady
- School Aid: Total NYS School Aid to City of Schenectady school districts will increase from $85.3 million in 2007-08 to $97.3 million in 2008-09, an increase of $12.0 million or 14.1%.
- Aid and Incentives to Municipalities (AIM): Total AIM funding for City of Schenectady residents will increase by $974,132 or 9.0% to $11.7 million in 2008-09.
- Consolidated Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS): Total CHIPS funding for the City of Schenectady will increase from $820,617 in 2007-08 to $987,692 in 2008-09, an increase of $167,075 or 20.4%.
Saratoga County
- Medicaid Cap/FHP Takeover: Projected savings for Saratoga County for the Medicaid Cap and State takeover of Family Health Plus will total $6.0 million in 2008-09.
- Consolidated Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS): Total CHIPS funding for Saratoga County will increase from $1.97 million in 2007-08 to $2.23 million in 2008-09, an increase of $263,391 or 13.4%.
Fulton County
- Medicaid Cap/FHP Takeover: Projected savings for Fulton County for the Medicaid Cap and State takeover of Family Health Plus will total $8.2 million in 2008-09.
- Consolidated Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS): Total CHIPS Funding for Fulton County will increase from $753,793 in 2007-08 to $860,059 thousand in 2008-09, an inrease of $106,266 or 14.1%.
Montgomery County
- Medicaid Cap/FHP Takeover: Projected savings for Montgomery County for the Medicaid Cap and State takeover of Family Health Plus will total $8.2 million in 2008-09.
- Consolidated Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS): Total CHIPS Funding for Montgomery County will increase from $1.70 million in 2007-08 to $1.98 million in 2008-09, an increase of $281,970 or 16.6%.
Washington County
- Medicaid Cap/FHP Takeover: Projected savings for Washington County for the Medicaid Cap and State takeover of Family Health Plus will total $2.2 million in 2008-09.
- Consolidated Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS): Total CHIPS Funding for Washington County will increase from $1.43 million in 2007-08 to $1.63 million in 2008-09, an increase of $206,447 or 14.5%.