GOVERNOR PATERSON RELEASES COUNTY-BY-COUNTY STIMULUS BENEFIT DATA

Long Island Expected to Receive at Least $1.7 Billion in ARRA Funds

New York Counties Expected to Receive at Least $18 Billion in ARRA Funds

Governor David A. Paterson today released a report outlining the distribution of more than $18 billion in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) spending throughout New York State, broken down by county and New York City. Nassau and Suffolk counties are expected to receive at least $1.7 billion in ARRA funds.
“To help New Yorkers better understand what the stimulus program means to their communities, we have created a database to show how stimulus funds are benefiting each county. This is part of our continuing effort to provide the public with transparent information that holds government accountable for the spending of their tax dollars through the stimulus program,” Governor Paterson said.

The report includes ARRA spending that is administered by New York State as well as spending that flows directly from federal agencies to local governments, institutions, and individuals. The report is based on information that the State has been able to capture to date and covers programs for which actual distribution is known or can be estimated. For example, while the Recovery Act provides education aid for two years, this database only reflects spending for the current school year. As certain ARRA funds are still being awarded and distributed, this report will be updated periodically to reflect new awards.

A list of the total $18 billion in ARRA funds designated for counties in New York thus far is available at: http://www.recovery.ny.gov/assets/documents/County_Stimulus_Data_Posting_102909.xls. The county analysis is available at: http://www.recovery.ny.gov/assets/documents/County_Analysis_Posting_102909.xls. The New York Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Cabinet’s most current report to the Governor is available at: http://www.recovery.ny.gov/assets/pdf/StimulusCabinetRptv4ARRA.pdf.

Note on regional data: The county totals include all identified ARRA spending in each county. The three categories outlined in the chart include only the spending in those categories and thus do not add up to the total. The chart shows the relative importance of these three categories: payments to individuals, aid to county governments and schools, and major infrastructure.

“It is also important to note that while a significant amount of attention is paid to infrastructure spending, stimulus funds are benefiting New Yorkers in many others ways as well – fewer federal taxes are being withheld from paychecks, unemployment checks are lasting longer and more food stamps are available. Those payments to individuals are helping millions of New Yorkers weather this difficult time in our economy,” the Governor added.

A significant portion of the $18 billion total—more than $5 billion—continues to be distributed to individual New Yorkers most in need of assistance. These include $3.9 billion in increased unemployment insurance payments, $1.3 billion in increased food stamps, and $69 million in Pell Grants.

Another large portion, $7 billion, has also already started to have a substantial impact on the State’s economy by reducing the need for budget cuts by county governments and school districts. That includes $2.7 billion for Medicaid and $2.9 billion in education spending. Spending for education includes $1.2 billion for increased Title 1 funding for disadvantaged schools and $821 million for IDEA special education funding. Most of these funds are spread out over two years.

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