ALBANY -- There just isn't enough money, and the need to cut the state budget is raising fears children may go hungry, local property taxes could rise further, and seniors could lose programs that allow them to stay in their homes.
Still, lawmakers confronting billions of dollars in deficits are likely to find that everywhere they turn, legions of interest groups, charities and state agencies will be holding their hats out.
Gov. David Paterson says $2 billion in spending must be cut from the more than $120 billion budget that ends March 31. It's going to be a painful process for New Yorkers as lawmakers search for meaningful and recurring budget cuts.
The New York Conference of Mayors is warning New Yorkers that lawmakers could drive up local property taxes by trimming aid to cities that pays for essential services like law enforcement and sanitation, said Peter Baynes, executive director of the New York Conference of Mayors.
"In an economy crisis like this, that's the last thing a property tax payer needs, is an increase in taxes," Baynes said.
Municipalities don't want to drive up taxes, but basic services must be paid for, said John McDonald III, mayor of Cohoes.
"We don't have any more options," he said. "When there's a call for police, or there's a fire, we still have to go. We can't just elect not to go. We still have to pick up the garbage, we still have to plow the roads."
Paterson has already warned charities that they will have to fill the void as some services are likely to be eliminated in New York's budget cuts this year.
"What, unfortunately, will be the result is children going to bed hungry, or people out on the street," said Dennis Poust, a spokesman for the New York State Catholic Conference. "We do everything we can to help. We're the Catholic church, and we're not going to abandon people, but the state cannot walk away from their responsibility here. We'll keep our food pantries open until the food runs out."
Poust said the tough economic times are hitting charities just as hard and the populations that tend to make donations can't contribute as much as in good times.
"What we tend to see in bad times are increasing needs for emergency assistance," he said. "People need emergency help paying their rent or their bills. We see longer lines in our soup kitchen. We see a greater need for more affordable housing."
The biggest chunks of the state's $120 billion budget are Medicaid and school aid, which have historically been protected by powerful unions.
If Medicaid is cut, advocates for the poor, sick and senior citizens will be outraged.
"Cuts could deny personal care services to an elderly person living alone, cuts could deny a homebound senior a meal, as well as force a family to institutionalize an elderly loved one because they no longer have the caregiver support in the community to keep the person at home," said Bill Ferris, a New York state lobbyist for AARP.
Ferris said cuts to programs for the elderly could cost the state more money in the long run. For example, community based long-term care services help the elderly remain in their homes and save the expense of institutional care that some elderly could be forced into.
Billy Easton, executive director of the Alliance for Quality Education, said it's "scary" that lawmakers could be considering midyear cuts to school aid.
"It's not an overstatement to say that kids could walk into school one day and find programs that were there the day before preparing to shut down," he said.
Counties are worried because there are numerous programs they are mandated to provide. If the state stops funding any of those taxes would have to go up at a local level.
"Enough. Enough of the cost shifting to the property taxpayers to pay for state services delivered locally," said Stephen Aquario, president of the New York State Association of Counties.
Aquario said health and human services programs are likely the first to feel pain from budget cuts. That would include mental heath programs, foster care, child welfare, addiction treatments, criminal justice programs and others.
County leaders would rather see another round of broad cuts that would result in less spending.
"To not reduce spending would be irresponsible of our state leaders," Aquario said
Gov. David Paterson says $2 billion in spending must be cut from the more than $120 billion budget that ends March 31. It's going to be a painful process for New Yorkers as lawmakers search for meaningful and recurring budget cuts.
The New York Conference of Mayors is warning New Yorkers that lawmakers could drive up local property taxes by trimming aid to cities that pays for essential services like law enforcement and sanitation, said Peter Baynes, executive director of the New York Conference of Mayors.
"In an economy crisis like this, that's the last thing a property tax payer needs, is an increase in taxes," Baynes said.
Municipalities don't want to drive up taxes, but basic services must be paid for, said John McDonald III, mayor of Cohoes.
"We don't have any more options," he said. "When there's a call for police, or there's a fire, we still have to go. We can't just elect not to go. We still have to pick up the garbage, we still have to plow the roads."
Paterson has already warned charities that they will have to fill the void as some services are likely to be eliminated in New York's budget cuts this year.
"What, unfortunately, will be the result is children going to bed hungry, or people out on the street," said Dennis Poust, a spokesman for the New York State Catholic Conference. "We do everything we can to help. We're the Catholic church, and we're not going to abandon people, but the state cannot walk away from their responsibility here. We'll keep our food pantries open until the food runs out."
Poust said the tough economic times are hitting charities just as hard and the populations that tend to make donations can't contribute as much as in good times.
"What we tend to see in bad times are increasing needs for emergency assistance," he said. "People need emergency help paying their rent or their bills. We see longer lines in our soup kitchen. We see a greater need for more affordable housing."
The biggest chunks of the state's $120 billion budget are Medicaid and school aid, which have historically been protected by powerful unions.
If Medicaid is cut, advocates for the poor, sick and senior citizens will be outraged.
"Cuts could deny personal care services to an elderly person living alone, cuts could deny a homebound senior a meal, as well as force a family to institutionalize an elderly loved one because they no longer have the caregiver support in the community to keep the person at home," said Bill Ferris, a New York state lobbyist for AARP.
Ferris said cuts to programs for the elderly could cost the state more money in the long run. For example, community based long-term care services help the elderly remain in their homes and save the expense of institutional care that some elderly could be forced into.
Billy Easton, executive director of the Alliance for Quality Education, said it's "scary" that lawmakers could be considering midyear cuts to school aid.
"It's not an overstatement to say that kids could walk into school one day and find programs that were there the day before preparing to shut down," he said.
Counties are worried because there are numerous programs they are mandated to provide. If the state stops funding any of those taxes would have to go up at a local level.
"Enough. Enough of the cost shifting to the property taxpayers to pay for state services delivered locally," said Stephen Aquario, president of the New York State Association of Counties.
Aquario said health and human services programs are likely the first to feel pain from budget cuts. That would include mental heath programs, foster care, child welfare, addiction treatments, criminal justice programs and others.
County leaders would rather see another round of broad cuts that would result in less spending.
"To not reduce spending would be irresponsible of our state leaders," Aquario said
Citizen
Hot Jobs
New! Off the Menu
The Citizens' Say
Post your comment - click hereThere are No comments posted.