2009 Budget Update

2009 Budget Update

• MAINTAINED CHIPS AT LAST YEARS $363 MILLION LEVEL DESPITE THE $103 MILLION CUT PROPOSED BY THE GOVERNOR
• STOPPED CONSOLIDATION EFFORT TARGETING OUR MEMBERS

Last week with NY facing a deficit of $17.7 billion, the Legislature passed the budget. The State's All Funds total spending to $131.8 billion for this fiscal year with assistance from the Federal Stimulus funding totaling $6.2 billion, reductions between $5.2 and $6.5 billion and $6.3 billion in new revenue proposals. In the tightest state budget ever NYSAOTSOH delivered on its member's priorities. Coupling this with the outstanding turnout we had this year at out Albany Lobby Day - Our State Legislators heard our message and reacted very favorably. Please thank your Assemblymembers and Senators.

When the state budget was finally passed on Friday April 3rd the combined efforts of all our members' hard work paid off:

• CHIPS capital funding was increased by $103 million over the Executive's Budget proposal and we were able to restore the total SFY 2009-10 CHIPs funding to $363 million.

(Click here to see SFY 2009-10 CHIPs Allocations)

• The Legislature rejected an effort by the Executive make it easier for town governments to appoint rather than elect Highway Superintendents. Recognizing our concerns the Legislature removed this proposal along with other consolidation language.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES

During the next few months our Association will not only be supporting measures that assist with efforts to provide safe and affordable roads for New York's drivers but also opposing those measures that hinder our efforts to achieve this goal. Similar to last year we will be supporting low volume road legislation that will allow municipalities to decide which roads on their system will remain seasonal roads and which if any will be upgraded. We will also be again opposing legislation that will amend the New York State Mined Land Reclamation Law and several bills which dictate changes in the prevailing wage laws because they will significantly increase the cost for localities to perform highway maintenance and replacement.

In order to maximize cost efficiency we are also introducing and supporting legislation amending General Municipal law section 103 to permit towns to purchase paving materials under county contract. This will allow a town to insure the lowest cost of road paving and maintenance for its taxpayers. We have met officials from the Department of Labor, they have agreed that such a measure is appropriate because prevailing wage rate is still being paid.

Together we have accomplished a great deal this year but we still have many major outstanding issues facing our membership. We look to more success before the state legislative session concludes in June.