FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 10, 2008

ENACTED STATE BUDGET PROVIDES SIGNIFICANT BENEFITS TO SYRACUSE AND CENTRAL NEW YORK

Governor David Paterson today announced that the Enacted State Budget contains numerous investments and actions that will benefit Central New York, including Chenango, Cortland, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga, Oswego, and Ostego 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 Central New York.”

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 $1.5 billion in school aid for the Central New York region, a substantial increase of $130.4 million (9.2 percent). The City of Syracuse School District will receive $249.1 million in school aid, an increase of $232 million (9.3 percent).

Additionally, the Enacted Budget provides critical funding of $20 million to help finance the Connective Corridor project in Syracuse as part of the City-by-City initiative to break gridlock on projects that are vital to the Central New York economy. Up to $13 million is also included for improvements and expansion efforts at Magna Powertrain in East Syracuse, which will help retain 1,800 jobs.

Aid and Incentives to Municipalities (AIM) revenue sharing funding will total $122.2 million for Central New York, an increase of $11.1 million (10.1 percent). In Syracuse, AIM funding will total $76.2 million, an increase of $7.4 million (10.8 percent).

Consolidated Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS) funding for Onondaga County will total $4.75 million, an increase of $575,540 (13 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 Onondaga County taxpayers $17.2 million in 2008-09.

A summary of budget actions affecting the Central New York region is included below.

SELECTED HIGHLIGHTS FOR CENTRAL NEW YORK
2008-09 ENACTED BUDGET


Syracuse-Central New York Region

Onondaga County

City of Syracuse

Oneida County

City of Utica

Chenango County

Otsego County

Oswego County