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Cuomo Finds Something Shammy In State Budget Process
By
Garth Johnston
Published Feb 1, 2011
Modified Feb 1, 2011
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By
Garth Johnston
Published Feb 1, 2011
Modified Feb 1, 2011
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Governor Andrew Cuomo presents his first state budget today, and he gave a heckuva of a preview yesterday in an op-ed on how budgets don't work in New York State. As Cuomo presents it, one of the major roadblocks to a "balanced" budget is pinpointing exactly what you are balancing. In many states, and especially in New York State, the budget is weighed down by a number of programs that are designed to increase up to 13% annually, just because they can. Take it away, Andy: "A 13 percent increase, in this economic climate, is wholly unrealistic. Wouldn’t you like your salary or savings account to be based on a formula that gave you a 13 percent increase even though inflation was under 2 percent? The world doesn’t work that way—except in Albany."
So basically, what the Gov wants New Yorkers to know is that if his budget today looks like a doozy, we shouldn't get too up in arms. What he is aiming to cut are planned spending increases, not existing spending levels (which helps explain this, we guess).
Cuomo then went on to explain why he thinks those increases are on the books ("lobbyists, special interests and political friends") and concludes with a very politician-sounding bit about how "we must balance this year’s budget but we must also reform the process so that the cycle finally stops. This year’s budget is not merely about the numbers. It’s about our values and our future."
Meanwhile, some are taking issue with Cuomo's title ("The Real Albany Sham: The Budget") and the fact that Cuomo was, he says, "shocked to learn that the state’s budget process is a sham." As one economist told the Times, "It is a little surprising that such an Albany veteran was surprised by the longstanding New York practice of current services budgeting as required by current law."
And Sheldon Silver (D-Manhattan), whose role in the Ledge makes him a prime target for Cuomo's concerns, took the high-ish road on the sham-issue. "You can call it what you want to call it, [but] there are serious issues," Silver told the Post. "There are, I believe, serious cuts to be made and serious gaps to close."
Got time to kill this afternoon? You can watch Cuomo give his first Executive Budget Address LIVE! at 1 p.m. on his website.
Tagged
andrew cuomo
sheldon silver
state budget
Garth Johnston
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