FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 10, 2008
ENACTED STATE BUDGET PROVIDES SIGNIFICANT BENEFITS TO LONG ISLAND
Governor David Paterson today announced that the Enacted State Budget includes numerous investments and actions that will benefit Long Island.
“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 Long Island.”
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 $2.6 billion in school aid for Long Island, an increase of $235.8 million (9.9 percent). Aid and Incentives to Municipalities (AIM) revenue sharing funding will total $28.6 million in that region, an increase of $984,257 (3.5 percent).
Additionally, the budget provides critical funding for research and development activities on Long Island, including $5 million for the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and $10 million for the SUNY Stony Brook Energy Research Center.
To finance important infrastructure initiatives, Consolidated Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS) funding of $6.25 million is provided for Nassau County, an increase of $537,919 or (9.4 percent), and $5.61 million for Suffolk County, an increase of $237,166 (4 percent).
The continued capping of local Medicaid costs and the state takeover of the Family Health Plus program will provide significant savings to Nassau County ($45.8 million) and Suffolk County ($44.8 million) in 2009.
A summary of budget actions affecting Long Island is included below.
SELECTED HIGHLIGHTS FOR LONG ISLAND
2008-09 ENACTED BUDGET
Long Island Region
- School Aid: Total NYS School Aid to Long Island school districts will increase from $2.39 billion in 2007-08 to $2.62 billion in 2008-09, an increase of $235.8 million or 9.9%.
- STAR Property Tax Relief: Total STAR property tax relief to Long Island region residents will increase from $1.04 billion in 2007-08 to $1.08 billion in 2008-09, an increase of $38.9 million or 3.7%.
- Aid and Incentives to Municipalities (AIM): Total AIM funding for Long Island region residents will increase by $984,257 or 3.5% to $28.6 million in 2008-09.
- Metropolitan Transit Authority: Total State Transit Operating Aid to the MTA and its commuter railroads will increase from $2.4 billion in 2007-08 to $2.5 billion in 2008-09, an increase of $105.2 million or 3.9%.
Nassau County
- School Aid: Total NYS School Aid to Nassau County school districts will increase from $789.9 million in 2007-08 to $885.5 million in 2008-09, an increase of $95.6 million or 12.1%.
- STAR Property Tax Relief: Total STAR property tax relief to Nassau County residents will increase from $505.7 million in 2007-08 to $524.7 million in 2008-09, an increase of $19.0 million or 3.6%.
- Aid and Incentives to Municipalities (AIM): Total AIM funding for Nassau County residents will increase by $728,691 or 3.8% to $19.8 million in 2008-09.
- Medicaid Cap/FHP Takeover: Total savings for Nassau County for the Medicaid Cap and State takeover of Family Health Plus will total $45.8 million in 2008-09.
- Consolidated Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS): Total CHIPS funding for Nassau County will increase from $5.71 million in 2007-08 to $6.25 million in 2008-09, an increase of $537,919 or 9.4%.
- Metropolitan Transportation Authority Long Island Bus (MTALIB): Total State Transit Operating Aid to the MTALIB will increase from $47.9 million in 2007-08 to $57.8 million in 2008-09, an increase of $9.9 million, or 20.7%.
Suffolk County
- School Aid: Total NYS School Aid to Suffolk County school districts will increase from $1.59 billion in 2007-08 to $1.74 billion in 2008-09, an increase of $140.2 million or 8.77%.
- STAR Property Tax Relief: Total STAR property tax relief to Suffolk County residents will increase from $539.4 million in 2007-08 to $559.4 million in 2008-09, an increase of $20.0 million or 3.6%.
- Aid and Incentives to Municipalities (AIM): Total AIM funding for Suffolk County residents will increase by $255,565 or 3.0% to $8.7 million in 2008-09.
- Medicaid Cap/FHP Takeover: Total savings for Suffolk County for the Medicaid Cap and State takeover of Family Health Plus will total $44.8 million in 2008-09.
- Consolidated Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS): Total CHIPS Funding for Suffolk County will increase from $5.38 million in 2007-08 to $5.61 million in 2008-09, an increase of $237,166 or 4.4%.
- Suffolk County Transit System: Total State Transit Operating Aid to the Suffolk County Transit System will increase from $20 million in 2007-08 to $22.6 million in 2008-09, an increase of $2.53 million, or 12.7%.