Senator Saland Announces Passage of 2012-13 Senate Budget Resolution

Senate Advances Plan that Focuses on Job Creation & Fiscal Responsibility

Senator Steve Saland (R, I, C Poughkeepsie) today announced that the New York State Senate has passed its budget resolution – a fiscally sound plan that achieves the Senate Republicans’ goals to control state spending, avoid new taxes, fees and unfunded mandates, and helps create jobs and build a stronger economy.

The Senate budget, at just under $132.5 billion, keeps the total state spending increase below two percent, and spends slightly less than the Executive Budget. The budget closes a $2 billion budget deficit and builds on last year’s successes in putting the state’s fiscal house in order.

“Our successes last year were in large part a product of bipartisanship. Working with Governor Cuomo and the Assembly, the Senate was able to get state government pointed in the right direction and establish a strong record of cutting spending and taxes, and creating jobs,” stated Senator Saland. “We accomplished a great deal in 2011, but we still have lots of work to do to keep New York State moving in the right direction.”

The Senate budget includes a comprehensive job creation plan that addresses the crucial need to help businesses create jobs. Key provisions of the plan include - increased tax credits for small businesses; a moratorium on new taxes and fees; new incentives to get businesses hiring again; a 20% tax cut for small businesses; and eliminate the 500% energy tax increase approved by the Senate Democrats in 2009.

Additional highlights of the Senate’s budget resolution include:

• A 2% tax cap on State spending

• Avoid new taxes, fees and unfunded mandates

• Accelerating the Governor’s plan to freeze local Medicaid costs – saving counties and local taxpayers $170 million over the next two years

• Restoring $200 million in school aid to help local schools and property taxpayers

• Providing college tuition relief for middle class families

• Restoring the STAR property tax rebate check program for senior citizens

• Restore EPIC to reduce co-payments for seniors to a maximum of $20

• Important fiscal reforms to control spending and taxes in future budgets

“The Senate’s budget is a solid, fiscally responsible plan that achieves my goals to control spending, cut taxes, and help to create new jobs,” stated Senator Saland. “These same core goals will remain my key objectives as we begin negotiating a final budget with the Assembly and Governor; an on time budget which must be accomplished no later than March 31st.”

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