FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 10, 2008
ENACTED STATE BUDGET PROVIDES SIGNIFICANT BENEFITS TO THE HUDSON VALLEY
Governor David Paterson today announced that the Enacted State Budget contains numerous investments and actions that will benefit the Hudson Valley, including Columbia, Dutchess, Greene, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster, and Westchester 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 Hudson Valley.”
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 $2.1 billion in school aid for the Hudson Valley region, a substantial increase of $170.2 million (8.8 percent). The City of Yonkers School District will receive $228.2 million in school aid, an increase of $16.2 million (7.6 percent).
Additionally, the budget provides critical funding for infrastructure development in the Hudson Valley, including $10 million for waterfront improvement initiatives, $5 million for the development of the solar energy industry, and $5 million for the growth of the semiconductor industry.
Aid and Incentives to Municipalities (AIM) revenue sharing funding will total $172.8 million for the Hudson Valley, an increase of $10.6 million (6.5 percent). In Yonkers, AIM funding will total $114.9 million, an increase of $7.2 million (6.8 percent).
Consolidated Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS) funding for Westchester County will total $2.62 million, an increase of $119,025 (4.8 percent), which 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 Westchester County taxpayers $22.9 million in 2008-09.
A summary of selected budget actions affecting the Hudson Valley are included below.
SELECTED HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE HUDSON VALLEY
2008-09 ENACTED BUDGET
Hudson Valley-Westchester Region
- School Aid: Total NYS School Aid to Hudson Valley-Westchester Region school districts will increase from $1.93 billion in 2007-08 to $2.10 billion in 2008-09, an increase of $170.2 million or 8.8%.
- STAR Property Tax Relief: Total STAR property tax relief to Hudson Valley-Westchester Region residents will increase from $919.4 million in 2007-08 to $952.4 million in 2008-09, an increase of $32.9 million or 3.5%.
- Aid and Incentives to Municipalities (AIM): Total AIM funding for Hudson Valley-Westchester Region residents will increase from $162.2 million in 2007-08 to $172.8 million in 2008-09, an increase of $10.6 million or 6.5%.
- 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%.
Columbia County
- Medicaid Cap/FHP Takeover: Projected savings for Columbia County for the Medicaid Cap and State takeover of Family Health Plus will total $953,426 in 2008-09.
- Consolidated Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS): Total CHIPS Funding for Columbia County will increase from $1.35 million in 2007-08 to $1.55 million in 2008-09, an increase of $194,809 or 14.4%.
Westchester County
- School Aid: Total NYS School Aid to Westchester County school districts will increase from $570.4 million in 2007-08 to $625.0 million in 2008-09, an increase of $54.7 million or 8.8%.
- STAR Property Tax Relief: Total STAR property tax relief to Westchester County residents will increase from $486.3 in 2007-08 to $503.2 in 2008-09, an increase of $16.9 or 3.4%.
- Aid and Incentives to Municipalities (AIM): Total AIM funding for Westchester County residents will increase from $135.1 million in 2007-08 to $144.1 million in 2008-09, an increase of $8.9 million or 6.6%.
- Medicaid Cap/FHP Takeover: Projected savings for Westchester County for the Medicaid Cap and State takeover of Family Health Plus will total $22.9 million in 2008-09.
- Consolidated Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS): Total CHIPS Funding for Westchester County will increase from $2.50 million in 2007-08 to $2.62 million in 2008-09, an increase of $119,025 or 4.8%.
- Westchester County Department of Transportation (WCDOT Bee-Line Bus): Total State Transit Operating Aid to the Westchester County Department of Transportation (WCDOT Bee-Line Bus) will increase from $47.8 million in 2007-08 to $48 million in 2008-09, an increase of $221,000.
Dutchess County
- Medicaid Cap/FHP Takeover: Projected savings for Dutchess County for the Medicaid Cap and State takeover of Family Health Plus will total $8.1 million in 2008-09.
- Consolidated Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS): Total CHIPS Funding for Dutchess County will increase from $2.31 million in 2007-08 to $2.59 million in 2008-09, an increase of $286,749 or 12.4%.
Orange County
- Medicaid Cap/FHP Takeover: Projected savings for Orange County for the Medicaid Cap and State takeover of Family Health Plus will total $12.3 million in 2008-09.
- Consolidated Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS): Total CHIPS Funding for Orange County will increase from $2.07 million in 2007-08 to $2.29 million in 2008-09, an increase of $218,431 or 10.5%.
Rockland County
- Medicaid Cap/FHP Takeover: Projected savings for Rockland County for the Medicaid Cap and State takeover of Family Health Plus will total $14.2 million in 2008-09.
- Consolidated Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS): Total CHIPS Funding for Rockland County will increase from $1.19 million in 2007-08 to $1.29 million in 2008-09, an increase of $98,109 or 8.2%.
Ulster County
- Medicaid Cap/FHP Takeover: Projected savings for Ulster County for the Medicaid Cap and State takeover of Family Health Plus will total $1.9 million in 2008-09.
- Consolidated Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS): Total CHIPS Funding for Ulster County will increase from $2.25 million in 2007-08 to $2.56 million in 2008-09, an increase of $310,870 or 13.8%.
Putnam County
- Medicaid Cap/FHP Takeover: Projected savings for Putnam County for the Medicaid Cap and State takeover of Family Health Plus will total $853,831 in 2008-09.
- Consolidated Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS): Total CHIPS Funding for Putnam County will increase from $743,647 in 2007-08 to $829,542 thousand in 2008-09, an increase of $85,895 or 11.6%.
City of Yonkers
- School Aid: Total NYS School Aid to City of Yonkers school districts will increase from $212.1 million in 2007-08 to $228.2 million in 2008-09, an increase of $16.0 million or 7.6%.
- Aid and Incentives to Municipalities (AIM): Total AIM funding for City of Yonkers residents will increase from $107.6 million in 2007-08 to $114.9 million in 2008-09, an increase of $7.2 million or 6.8%.
- Consolidated Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS): Total CHIPS Funding for the City of Yonkers will increase from $1.28 million in 2007-08 to $1.55 million in 2008-09, an increase of $264,409 or 20.6%.
City of Newburgh
- School Aid: Total NYS School Aid to City of Newburgh school districts will increase from $116.5 million in 2007-08 to $132.5 million in 2008-09, an increase of $16.0 million or 13.7%.
- Aid and Incentives to Municipalities (AIM): Total AIM funding for City of Newburgh residents will increase by $230,899 or 5.0% to $4.8 million in 2008-09.
- Consolidated Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS): Total CHIPS funding for the City of Newburgh will increase from $255,872 in 2007-08 to $308,352 thousand in 2008-09, an increase of $52,453 or 20.5%.
City of Poughkeepsie
- Aid and Incentives to Municipalities (AIM): Total AIM funding for the City of Poughkeepsie residents will increase by $219,696 or 5.0% to $4.6 million in 2008-09.
City of Kingston
- Aid and Incentives to Municipalities (AIM): Total AIM funding for City of Kingston residents will increase by $342,662 or 11.3% to $3.3 million in 2008-09.
City of Middletown
- Aid and Incentives to Municipalities (AIM): Total AIM funding for City of Middletown residents will increase by $302,098 or 11.3% to $2.9 million in 2008-09.