Savino Hails State Budget Passage

For immediate release March 17, 2014

For further information please contact Michael Arvanites at 917-816-1123

Savino Hails State Budget Passage

Senator Diane J. Savino (Staten Island/Brooklyn - D, WF, I) a member of the Independent Democratic Conference, part of the Senate Majority Coalition hailed the passage of New York State’s fourth on time budget in a row. With a 5.3% increase in education spending this budget stills holds spending increases under 2%.

"This budget delivers on our promise to provide high-quality, full-time universal pre-k to tens of thousands of New York City four-year-olds starting this September. This budget helps our seniors, by expanding prescription drug coverage and freezing skyrocketing rents, helping with utilities. This budget helps working parents, by increasing state funding for daycare programs.” Savino continued. “I want to thank my colleagues in the Senate Majority Coalition for hearing the vast majority of my requests and providing relief for all Staten Islanders and Brooklynites through this on time conscientious budget.”

-- Fiscal Year 2015 $138 billion, total growth held under 2 percent and on time for the fourth year running.

Tax Relief

-- Good news for owners and renters alike,

• There is a renters’ tax credit for anyone whose adjusted gross income is under $200,000;

• There is a planned reduction in the business tax rate from 7.1 percent to 6.5 percent;

• Manufacturing tax cuts are planned;

Education:

-- A $1.1 billion, or 5.3 percent, increase in education aid.

-- $33 Million in child care subsides

-- Allocations of $340 million for universal pre-K during each of the next two years, with $300 million for New York City.

-- Changes in implementation of the Common Core curriculum, for instance test scores will be off transcripts of students in third through eighth grades through 2018.

-- Increased aid for charter schools, assurances they will have space to operate and making them eligible for pre-K funding.

--College of Staten Island Athena Supercomputer $10 million

-- Reach Out and Read $30,000

Child Care and Day Care

-- Additional Childcare Subsidies $33,000,000

-- Child Care Block Grant Restoration $33,000,000

Economic Development:

-- Business tax cuts, including a 20 percent property tax credit for manufacturers who own or lease property and cutting the income tax rate for manufacturers from 5.9 percent to zero.

--$750,000 to the Willowbrook based Institute for Basic Research know as IBR the Research Foundation of Mental Hygiene to keep staff.

--Cutting Manufacturer’s Taxes to Zero, making New York a more attractive place for firms to locate and create jobs.

--The Budget will establish a 20 percent real property tax credit for manufacturers who own or lease property and lowers the tax rate on income for all manufacturers from the current 5.9 percent to zero in 2014 and thereafter.

-- Brownfield Opportunity Areas $360,000(also listed under environment) administered by SIEDC and Northfield LDC

-- Murphy Institute $1,250,000

-- Settlement Houses $1,000,000

-- Consortium for Worker Education $450,000

-- Worker Institute $300,000

Ethics and Campaign Finance:

-- A pilot program for public campaign financing of statewide campaigns that will involve the comptroller's race, with matching public funds of $6 for each dollar of eligible contributions and limits of $4 million each for the primary and general election.

-- Establishing a new independent enforcement officer at the state board of elections to investigate violations of campaign finance laws.

Seniors:

--$5 million for Senior Citizens Rent Increase Exemptions or SCRIE Expansion $5,000,000

--$2 million for the Elderly Prescription Insurance Coverage or EPIC program to allow seniors making

$100,000 or less to enroll in the popular prescription drug program. S.6734- EPIC expansion $2,000,000

Utility Costs:

--New Yorkers pay some of the highest energy bills in the nation, by phasing out the Temporary Utility Assessment struggling businesses and families will pay less on their utility bills.

The Budget will save businesses and residents $600 million statewide over the next three years.

Protecting the Environment:

-- $162 million for the Environmental Protection Fund, an increase of $9 million from 2013-14.

-- Brownfield Opportunity Areas $360,000 (also listed under Economic Development.) administered by SIEDC and Northfield LDC

Justice and Crime:

-- New York is one of only two states that continue to prosecute 16- and 17-year olds through the adult criminal justice system. Funding exists for the Commission on Youth, Public Safety and Justice to raise the age of juvenile jurisdiction, improve outcomes for youth, and promote community safety.

-- SNUG/ManUp an anti-violence program with Urban Neighborhood Services in Coney Island allocated $250,000 for their anti-violence programming.

-- Restoration of the Staten Island Children's Advocacy Centers $2,570,000

Workforce Development Institute $4,000,000

-- District Attorney - Staten Island $100,000

Arts and Culture:

-- NY Council for the Humanities $450,000