Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s budget draws mixed reaction locally

Jill Terreri • Staff writer • February 2, 2011
Democrat and Chronicle

Gov. Andrew Cuomo either has the courage to fix what ails New York or his budget ax will cause too much pain, depending on who’s talking.

Cuomo’s proposed budget, released Tuesday, cuts overall spending by $3.7 billion, something that’s relatively unheard of in Albany’s recent past.

Local governments would receive less in state aid, local state workers could lose their jobs, the library system, local colleges and public broadcasting could see a reduction in funding.

The city of Rochester would lose $1.8 million and Irondequoit would lose more than $12,000 in the fiscal year beginning April 1, if the budget were passed by the state Legislature without changes — which rarely happens.

The City School District could lose 1 percent of its funding, or $5 million, and is anticipating a $100 million budget gap.

Cuomo noted during his budget address Tuesday in Albany that while state government would be cut by 10 percent, local governments and school districts would be cut by 2 percent.

Acting Mayor Carlos Carballada said the budget proposal takes the state in a positive direction by ending automatic yearly spending increases, but he noted that it increases the city’s budget shortfall by $1.3 million, bringing next year’s budget gap to $50 million.

Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks called the budget “powerful” but said that the true impact on county governments wasn’t yet known.

Brooks said she is on the governor’s mandate relief commission and believes he will take the commission’s recommendations seriously when they are released in the next few weeks.

“I think at the end of the day all counties want to be partners with the governor,” Brooks said.

But there definitely would be pain if this proposal is approved.

People with disabilities could be hurt by a cut in Medicaid reimbursement to home health care providers.

“That would make it very hard, in some cases impossible (to stay) in the business of home care,” said Chris Hilderbrant, chief operating officer of the Center for Disability Rights.

In discussing education, Cuomo cited superintendents’ salaries, noting that some top $300,000.

“Why they get paid more than the governor of New York state I don’t understand,” he said.

Being a superintendent is demanding and is like being a chief executive of a company, said Monroe County School Boards Association Executive Director Jody Siegle.

“Elected officials are not paid the same way as skilled people who are hired to work for organizations.”

School districts need to have some mandates removed more than they need money, Siegle said.

Rochester Business Alliance CEO Sandy Parker said Cuomo’s budget offers leadership that taxpayers have been looking for, even if the decisions “are painful and unpopular.”

Ove Overmyer, who represents part-time workers at the Rochester Public Library, said he knew cuts to libraries were coming, and there are discussions that will happen locally and at the state level to protect library jobs, he said.

“We know this is going to be difficult,” he said.

JTERRERI@DemocratandChronicle.com