TIMES UNION ■ Albany, Wednesday, January 18, 2012 ** ■ A3

StatE Editor Casey Seiler 454-5619 [email protected] Big bet put on Change is way forward Gov. ’s budget proposal for the 2012-13 fiscal year: mergers LOCAL EFFECTS Plan would consolidate ■ Major elements: Cuomo proposes local share at that number moving forward. selaer County Executive Kathy Jimino said legal gambling, other keeping state local aid payments, known Cuomo is also backing a new, less lu- Cuomo’s Medicaid proposal falls far short services like ski areas as AIM money, flat at this crative pension tier that would save local of providing meaningful relief for overbur- year’s levels, meaning governments money on their contributions dened taxpayers. By JAMES M. ODATO $12.6 million for Albany, to the state pension system. The signals were also mixed on the Capitol bureau $12.2 million for Troy In individual items, Cuomo made good fate of the Albany convention center. Gavin and $11.2 million for on a promise of $7.85 million advance Donohue, chairman of the Albany Conven- ALBANY — As Gov. Andrew Schenectady. to the city of Albany on payments in lieu tion Center Authority, praised Cuomo’s Cuomo “reimagines government,” of taxes on , and re- re-appropriation of the existing money, first He also proposes a appropriated the $75 million to fund prepa- set aside under Gov. , which he envisions a new commission change that would, in three years, cap the overseeing legal gambling in New rations for a downtown convention center. the authority is using to buy land for the county share of costs for the Medicaid There is roughly $63 million remaining in $220 million public convention space and York that he would control. health care system for the poor. Currently, He also sees the Olympic Re- the account. related private hotel and parking garage. “It the counties are not liable for any increas- keeps all our options open,” Donohue said. gional Development Authority es beyond 3 percent annually. ■ Reaction: Albany County Executive But asked whether the re-appropriation Skip DickStein/ running Belleayre Ski Center, in- But the governor’s new plan would re- Dan McCoy, a fellow Democrat, welcomed was a sign of support for the project, Bud- BUDget Director Robert Megna stead of the Department of Envi- duce that to 2 percent in its first year, 1 Cuomo’s early efforts to relieve the weight get Director Robert Megna said: “I don’t says re-appropriation of funds for an ronmental Conservation. percent the following year and then cap the of state mandates, but Republican Rens- think that’s an indication of anything.” Albany convention center isn’t a signal. And he visualizes a big shot di- recting all of state government’s far-flung information technology services. The images are part of a state SCHOOLS consolidation campaign with a goal ■ Major elements: Total New York 69 percent of total aid. To speed up teacher discipline hearings, ■ Reaction: “Gov. Cuomo is rightly of saving money, ending redundan- school aid will go up by 4 percent to $20.3 Cuomo gave the state Education Depart- which currently average 653 days, Cuomo using his budget proposal to insist that dis- cies and making things work better, billion for the 2012-13 ment and the New York State United Teach- said some of the cost would be split be- tricts earn state aid increases by adopting Cuomo said in his budget address school year, according ers 30 days to end a legal dispute over a tween the district and the bargaining unit meaningful teacher evaluation processes. Tuesday. to a preliminary budget new teacher evaluation system, he will im- representing the educator. Measuring whether students are learning A new State Gaming Commis- release. Most of the pose one in his amendments to his budget Bus purchasing would be centralized from individual teachers will bring about a sion would absorb the Division of school aid increase plan. Under his proposal, school districts through a single statewide contract to new – and long-needed – era of account- the Lottery, which is expected to would go to high-needs would not receive additional aid if they do reduce costs. State assessments would ability in public education,” said Jason collect a record $3.24 billion in districts, which are slat- not have a teacher evaluation system in receive $7.7 million to continue all Regents Brooks of the Foundation for Education revenues next year, and the Rac- ed to get 76 percent of the increase and place by Jan. 17, 2013. exams. Reform & Accountability. ing and Wagering Board, which oversees casinos, racinos and rac- ing. The new body would be in charge of “the overall coordination HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES of gaming policy and regulation.” Cuomo’s aides said details on this ■ Major elements: Cuomo’s adhered second year as planned, holding growth at intervention providers in their networks. ers were stunned by the cuts to the pro- proposal, and others like it, may to his reform agenda of controlling Medic- 4 percent or $614 million. The proposed budget reduces tobacco gram. “I’m extremely disappointed,” said take a while to develop. But legisla- aid costs and centralizing Cuomo plans to implement a health prevention funding by $10 million over two Leslie Grubler, of the United New York Early tion submitted on Tuesday showed duties. In addition to the care exchange, a marketplace where indi- years and closes more juvenile correction Intervention Providers. the governor wants to control the planned assumption of viduals and small businesses can shop for facilities. The Healthcare Association of New new entity, which would also be more of the program’s health insurance. Instead of a 10 percent increase to the York State accepts the 2 percent cut to in charge of background checks cost to counties, which He proposed chopping $99 million from welfare grant scheduled for July, Cuomo provider reimbursements in Cuomo’s bud- of any proposed gaming industry will cover $61 million of early childhood intervention services over spreads it across two years. get, but the group said the state needs participants. the counties’ share next the next five years, while requiring private to ease regulations that burden medical year, the Medicaid cap will continue for the insurance companies to include early ■ Reaction: Early intervention provid- providers. The idea, similar to one ad- vanced unsuccessfully by Gov. George Pataki eight years ago, did not cause concern among key SUnY lawmakers, although they had not HIGHER EDUCATION chancellor read the 132-page bill involving Nancy Zimpher ■ Major elements: Funding would cause of enrollment changes. the mergers. “As long as it brings says the budget remain flat for the State University of efficiency,” said Senate Racing and ■ Reaction: “This preservation of plan preserves Wagering Committee Chairman New York and the the state’s financial commitment to City University of New the state’s John Bonacic. SUNY will allow us to better serve our York. The proposed commitment “I don’t have a problem with it,” students as we directly reinvest their budget does include tuition dollars in student support ser- to students added Assembly Racing and Wa- $30 million for a new attending the gering Committee Chairman Gary vices and hire more full-time faculty,” round of NYSUNY said SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher. state university Pretlow. 2020 Challenge grants. That money will “It also enables us to better serve New system. The gaming commission would be combined with an equal share from York, as curricula and initiatives on our have a five-member board appoint- SUNY, and 60 of the school’s campuses campuses target workforce needs in ed by the governor with “consent” will compete for three $20 million chal- every region, and the extended NY SUNY of the Senate. Any member and an lenge grants. 2020 challenge grant program incentiv- executive director would serve at Community colleges will see a slight izes our campuses to boost economic the pleasure of the governor. Cuo- (.03 percent) decrease in spending be- development.” Skip DickStein/TIMES UNION mo calls for bringing horse breed- ing funds — currently in separate entities run by Tim Gordon and Tracy Egan — into the gaming commission. The future of top of- ENVIRONMENT ficers of the racing board, now led ■ Major elements: Cuomo plans control, critical dam and coastal erosion 2,983. Locally, the EPF would provide including outdoor tourism, agriculture and by John Sabini, and the Lottery, projects.” $2 million to Preserve protecting the drinking water for millions run by Gordon Medenica, is not no cuts in jobs or programs at the state Department of Environ- Likewise, parks would get $89 million Commission, unchanged from last year. of New Yorkers,” said conservancy state clear. mental Conservation for longstanding repairs, with another $5 Parks would be down 12 jobs, to 1,736, Director Bill Ulfelder. “ ... By maintaining The governor also intends to or the Office of Parks, million for improvements to Whiteface reflecting attrition and the ongoing hiring funding in yet another difficult fiscal year, fill a position of chief informa- Recreation and Historic and Gore ski centers run by Olympic freeze. Gov. Cuomo has demonstrated his commit- tion officer with a person able to ment.” Preservation. The En- Regional Development Authority, which ■ Reaction: Environmental groups in- coordinate all IT functions state- vironmental Protection also would take over operation of the Bel- cluding Scenic Hudson, The Nature Conser- Environmental Advocates Deputy Direc- wide. As an illustration of why the Fund remains unchanged leayre ski mountain in the Catskills from vancy and Environmental Advocates of New tor Dave Gahl praised the budget for leav- powerful post is needed, Budget at $134 million, and DEC would get new DEC. York welcomed the budget. ing out any mention of state revenue from Director Robert Megna said state $102 million in capital fund for “flood DEC jobs would remain constant at “EPF supports more than 350,000 jobs, hydrofracking for natural gas. agencies and the Office for Tech- nology combined have 4,000 sepa- rate Windows licenses. “We need a centralized CIO, we need central- ized procurement,” he said. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Megna said Cuomo decided to transfer Belleayre to ORDA, which ■ Major elements: An attempt to sentially without spending money. er round of competitive grants for his 10 ■ Reaction: The business community already operates Gore and White- show that job creation “That really is the art form today,” regional economic development councils, was more thrilled with the overall fiscal Cuomo said. “To me, that is the example of and $75 million in initial funding for his $1 face ski centers, instead of selling can be done on the restraint of Cuomo’s budget, as well as cheap, Cuomo’s proposal entrepreneurial government.” billion plan to revitalize Buffalo’s economy. his plans for pension reform and mandate the Catskills facility. calls for just under $1.2 The state will end up spending money But much of Cuomo’s economic devel- relief. Other plans include merging the billion in new spending to under Cuomo’s economic development opment budget — $723 million — will “This budget proposal is clearly an- Department of Civil Service and try to attract more than budget, including $250 million on the Uni- go toward a $15 billion infrastructure other step in the right direction to rebuild the Governor’s Office of Employee $25 billion in private sec- versity at Albany’s College of Nanoscale program to rebuild highways and bridges, New York’s fiscal health and encourage Relations into the Department of tor and federal investment, which would Science and Engineering for a new $4.8 parks, dams and higher education facili- sustained economic growth,” said Mike Workforce Management. bring thousands of new jobs to the state. billion computer chip research initiative the ties that will tap into federal funding as Durant, state director of the National Fed- Other changes include transfer- Cuomo said in his budget speech that governor announced in September. well as money from existing authorities eration of Independent Business, which ring debt collection by the Higher the state has to try to spur job growth es- Cuomo will seek $130 million for anoth- and private capital. represents small businesses. Educational Services Corp. to the Department of Taxation & Fi- nance; closing five regional De- partment of Transportation field offices; and cutting more than 25 TRANSPORTATION unneeded panels, such as the ar- ■ Major elements: The budget more than $700 million for other projects. renewal taxes and fees, the money was creation. The lobbying organization repre- mored car carrier advisory board includes $1.16 billion of new funds, includ- The budget also proposes to merge the supposed to go to rebuilding aging roads sents hundreds of construction and engi- and the Long Island Sound coastal ing $917 million from troubled Dedicated Highway and Bridge and bridges. neering firms. advisory commission. the federal government, Trust Fund with the state Department of Instead, it to the state Depart- “The governor is really making a historic The governor said his commis- to maintain, repair and Transportation’s Accident Damage Ac- ment of Motor Vehicles and for snow investment in the state’s infrastructure,” sion to examine consolidation will replace highways and count. plowing. he said. be working on more proposals in bridges. The money will The fund has been raided by governors His organization is looking for more de- the coming months to “address the provide more than $212 and legislators for years, with the state an- ■ Reaction: Mike Elmendorf, president tails on what merging the funds will mean, thousands of programs that exist million for bridge repairs nouncing last year that $3 billion would be and CEO of Associated General Contrac- but “I think the governor recognizes the across the vast bureaucracy with on 115 critical bridges, $250 million for needed to bail it out over five years. Fund- tors of New York State, said the spending trust fund is broken and is committed to little rhyme or reason.” preserving 2,000 miles of pavement, and ed by fuel, rental car and driver’s license will be good for both roads as well as job fixing it.”

▶ Reach Odato at 454-5083 or [email protected]. — Compiled by Jordan Carleo-Evangelist, Larry Rulison, Cathleen F. Crowley, Brian Nearing, Scott Waldman and Tim O’Brien