eNews: NYS 2017-18 Budget Edition

Below are highlights from the enacted 2017-18 State Budget.

1. INVESTING IN EDUCATION

The 2017-18 State Budget includes an increase of $1 billion (4.1%) in education aid for a total of $25.7 billion
Foundation aid is increased by $700 million, for a total of $17.2 billion
$95.6 million is included for public libraries across NYS, restoring a $9 million cut proposed by the Governor, as well as an increase of $10 million in capital funding (for a total of $24 million) for libraries
$35 million for important afterschool programs that keep students engaged outside the classroom
$25 million in Smart School Technology funding and $5 million to support STEM in nonpublic schools
$14 million for nonpublic school mandated costs, including $7 million for immunization mandates
$25 million in new funding for nonpublic schools, day cares, and community centers at risk for hate crimes
Excelsior Scholarship program covers the remaining cost of tuition for in-state students at SUNY and CUNY schools that is not covered by the current Tuition Assistance Program (up to $5,500 per student)
The Assembly also helped secure language that creates requirements for students taking advantage of the Excelsior Scholarship, including a minimum GPA and maintaining residency after graduation. The scholarship becomes a loan that must be paid back for students who do not stay in New York
$1.1 billion for the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP), a record investment to help make college more affordable
$3.1 million scholarship program to assist part-time students attending Community Colleges

2. REPAIRING AGING INFRASTRUCTURE

$1.5 billion for road and bridge projects across the state
$503 million for Consolidated Local Street and Highway Program (CHIPs)
$65 million of that is new funding which will go to the Extreme Weather Recovery Program
$385 million for the State and Municipal Facilities Program to improve infrastructure, enhance neighborhoods, and make vital improvements to our community
An additional $10 million, for a total of $26.5, for aviation and airport infrastructure projects
$352 million for rail freight over the next five years
$100 million for PAVE NY
$2.5 billion for water infrastructure by repairing and replacing old pipes and water mains, as well as preventive measures, such as source water land acquisition, to keep water from becoming polluted
$512 million, an increase of $10 million, to support upstate and downstate non-MTA transit

3. PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT

$300 million for the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF)
$245 million for Water Quality Improvement Program
$36.3 million for land acquisition projects
$13 million to address invasive species
$8 million for environmental justice programs
$23 million for clean energy tax credits to encourage progress toward our energy goals as well as $500 thousand for green jobs and renewable energy training programs
Extends the Alternative Fuels and Electric Vehicle Recharging Property credit for an additional five years to encourage the use of more environmentally friendly cars
Increases the state match for waterfront revitalization projects from 50% to 85%
Creation of the Emerging Contaminant Monitoring Act to require all public water systems to test for unregulated contaminants identified by the Department of Health

4. SUPPORTING BUSINESS & PROVIDING TAX RELIEF

The final budget includes language to expand ridesharing services such as Uber and Lyft to Upstate, creating new job opportunities and reliable transportation for residents
The budget also lifts the cap on the number of industrial hemp licenses; previously set at ten, there will no longer be a limit on the number issued. This new crop will help boost our agriculture industry and provides numerous new manufacturing opportunities
New workers compensation reforms that are estimated to save employers hundreds of millions of dollars a year while still offering important protections for injured workers; read more about these reforms here
$15 million is included in the final budget for a variety of workforce development and job training programs, including $4 million for the Workforce Development Institute, nearly $1 million for Chamber of Commerce On-The-Job Training Program, and $600,000 for Building Trades Pre-Apprenticeship Programs, among others
A 25% tax credit, up to $5,000, for farms that donate to local food banks
The budget rejects DMV title fees that were proposed by the Governor
It also successfully defeated a proposed tax on internet purchases
$3.15 billion is included for STAR and Enhanced STAR property tax rebate program; the Assembly successfully blocked the Governor’s proposal to cap the amount of residents’ STAR rebates
The state “millionaire’s tax,” which generates billions of dollars in revenue for the state and was set to expire at the end of the year, is extended for two years
$800 thousand for FarmNet, a program which helps family farms transition to a new generation of ownership

5. ENHANCING HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES

The 2017-18 state budget increases funding by $43 million over last year, for a total of $213 million, to fight the heroin epidemic; this funding supports a variety of treatment and prevention programs, including family support navigators, peer supports, recovery clubhouses and community coalitions, and $10 million in additional capital support to increase the number of beds in in-patient treatment facilities
$14 million in 2017-18 and $146 million in 2018-19 to fund a two-year, living wage initiative for direct care workers; these workers will receive a 3.25 percent raise on Jan. 1, 2018. Additionally, direct care workers, direct support staff, and clinical staff will receive a 3.25 percent increase on April 1, 2018. This funding was a direct result of the #bFair2DirectCare campaign
‘Raise the Age’ language was included in the final budget which will prevent non-violent 16- and 17-year-olds from being prosecuted as adults for certain misdemeanor and nonviolent felony crimes
The final budget rejects the shift of Title XX discretionary funds which would have resulted in the closure of over 65 senior centers in New York City and reduced the funding available for Adult Protective Services (APS) here in Broome County; this was a top priority for me as Chair of the Assembly Aging Committee
$13.5 million to support long-term care, including restoring $10 million to preserve spousal refusal, ensuring couples do not lose their life savings in the event a spouse becomes ill and needs nursing home care
$875,000 was added (for a total of $28.9 million) to the Community Services for the Elderly (CSE) program, a block grant that counties can use to fund programs such as case management, personal care, home delivered meals, social adult day care, transportation, health promotion and wellness activities, and senior centers, among others
$2.5 billion will be released for affordable housing and anti-homelessness initiatives; this money was included in last year’s budget but could only be released with the agreement of a memo of understanding
$10 million in capital support for children’s behavioral health
$20 million for nonprofit infrastructure improvements to help human services organizations make capital repairs to facilities and update technology