Blog State Budget

Questions About the NYS FY2018 Executive Budget

January 12, 2017

In Governor Andrew Cuomo’s six regional State of the State speeches and the accompanying policy book, he highlighted proposals that will be included in the Fiscal Year 2018 Executive Budget. Table 1 presents the cost of the items with fiscal impact. The total of $15.5 billion is divided among the operating budget, capital budget, and “off budget” sources. However, some important questions will remain unanswered until the Executive Budget is released on January 17:

  • Governor Cuomo pledged his fiscal year 2018 budget will include a "record level" of education aid. How much will be added, and will the budget include necessary reforms to Foundation Aid? In light of the proposal to make CUNY and SUNY tuition free for many students, will the budget include reauthorization of the rational funding plan which permitted annual increases in tuition?
  • Will the Governor propose additional funds or alternative measures to assist financially distressed safety-net health facilities? Will the Executive proposal to cap the Medicaid cost for certain prescriptions provide enough savings to keep Medicaid spending under the existing cap? What other Medicaid cost-containment measures will be included?
  • Will the previous fiscal year 2018 budget gap grow? As of November the projected gap was $3.5 billion – do the new initiatives add to this or will other programs be cut?
  • How will the current or increased gap be closed? Will the expiring personal income tax surcharge and health insurance taxes be renewed or increased?

By David Friedfel

Table 1: Proposals With a Fiscal Impact Announced by Governor Cuomo
Description Cost Type of Spending
Clean Water Infrastructure $2 Billion State Capital
Buffalo Billion 2 $500 Million State Capital
Empire State Trail $220 Million over 3 years State Capital
Woodbury Transit and Economic Development Hub $150 Million State Capital
SUNY/CUNY 2020 Grants $110 Million State Capital
Kingsbridge National Ice Center $108 Million State Capital
Second Round of Downtown Revitalization $100 Million State Capital
Invest in State Parks via NY Works $60 Million State Capital
Revitalization of Plattsburgh Airport $38 Million State Capital
Revitalization of Syracuse Airport $36 Million State Capital
Gateway to the Adirondacks $32 Million State Capital
Schenactady Train Statation revitalization $15 Million State Capital
Orchard Beach Pavilion Redevelopment  $10 Million State Capital
Extend and Expand Design-Build Authorization for State Agencies TBD State Capital
Life Sciences  $650 Million $350 Million in State Operating, $300 Million in State Capital
New York City Investments $168 Million $118 Million in State Capital, $50 Million TBD
Long Island Investments ($120 Million for Long Island Rail Road and $40 Million for Sewer and Wastewater Treatment) $160 Million  $125 Million in State Capital, $35 Million in MTA Capital
Verrazano Bridge $14 Million $7 Million State Operating, $7 Million MTA Operating
Excelsior Scholarships $163 Million when fully effective in 2019 State Operating
Maintain Current Environmental Protection Fund Levels $120 Million State Operating
Sentencing Reform $50 Million over five years State Operating
Increase Child Care Credit $42 Million State Operating
SAAB to Establish Division $20-30 Million in Excelsior Benefits, $10 Million in Upstate Revitilization Funds State Operating
Expand After School Education in High Needs Areas $35 Million State Operating
Photonics Ventrue Challenge in Rochester $10 Million State Operating
Early College High Schools $5.3 Million State Operating
Recent College Graduates First-Time Homeowners in Upstate Communities Program $5 Million State Operating
Tourism Promotion - Increase to $55 Million $5 Million State Operating
Expand Pre-K $5 Million State Operating
Establish New York State Grown & Certified Agricultural Producers’ Grant Fund $5 Million State Operating
Southern Pine Beetle Infestation $3 Million State Operating
Cover cost of AP exams $2 Million State Operating
Veteran Mentor Programs $1 million State Operating
Expand the Domestic Violence Risk Reduction Response Program  $0.8 Million over two years State Operating
Cyber-Bullying Campaign $0.30 Million State Operating
Empire State Excellence in Teaching Award $0.3 Million State Operating
Justice for Heroes (veterans) Competititive grants $0.25 Million State Operating
Protect Against Cyber Crime TBD State Operating
Protect Seniors from Financial Exploitation TBD State Operating
Ban Bad Actors from the Financial Services Industry TBD State Operating
Protect Against Wage Theft TBD State Operating
Modernize Voting via 'Democracy Project' TBD State Operating
Close of Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant TBD State Operating
New York Promise Agenda Criminal Justice Reforms TBD State Operating
Lower Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Cap by 30% by 2030 TBD State Operating
Prescription Drug Medicaid Cap and Surcharge TBD State Operating
Empire State Public Service Award TBD State Operating
Ethics Package TBD State Operating
Constitutional Amendment Limiting Outside Income & Creating a Full-Time Legislature TBD State Operating
Public Financing and Other Campaign Finance Reforms TBD State Operating
Subject Local Elected Officials to Financial Disclosure Requirements TBD State Operating
Reform the State Freedom of Information Law TBD State Operating
Expand the State Inspector General's Authority to SUNY and CUNY Not-for-profits TBD State Operating
Create New Inspectors General for the Port Authority and the State Education Department TBD State Operating
Increase Oversight of the State's Procurement Process TBD State Operating
Expand Excelsior Jobs Tax Credits to Training of Incumbent Workers TBD State Operating
Workers Compensation Reform TBD State Operating
De-criminalize Small Amounts of Marijuana TBD State Operating
Various Preservation, Environmental and Forestry Grants TBD EPF, Other State Resources
Transform JFK Airport $10 Billion Port Authority Capital
Construct 11 Major Renewable Energy Projects $360 Million Off-Budget
Increase SNAP allowances for certain families $228 Million Federal Funds
NY Tech Workforce $5 Million Federal Funds (WIOA)
Invest in Montefiore Health System  $50 Million TBD
Master Teachers in Computer Science $2 Million TBD
500 New Charging Stations for Electric Vehicles TBD TBD
Establish Brooklyn Center of Community Health and Wellness  TBD TBD
Make Verrazano Bridge Toll Reductions Permanent for Staten Island Commuters TBD TBD
Incorporate Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities into CUNY TBD TBD
Expand Ride-Hailing services to Upstate TBD TBD
Voter Approved Local Government Effeciency Plans TBD TBD
Long Island Offshore Wind Energy Project TBD TBD
Herion and Opioid Epidemic TBD TBD
Buy American Plan TBD TBD
Study to Replace I-81 Viaduct in CNY TBD TBD
Lift Cap on Hemp Farms TBD TBD
Expanded Homeless Services TBD TBD
Increase Food Donation and Recycling of Organic Waste  TBD TBD

Note: Includes only proposals with a fiscal impact.