Editor’s Note: As our last edition went to press, the Governor and the Legislature were still negotiating a final budget compromise. They reached a final budget in early April. Below is a summary of how it will impact CSEA members. For a more detailed analysis, please visit https://cseany.org/legislative-political-action
ALBANY — The enacted State Budget is not perfect, but thanks to the action and advocacy of CSEA members, it turned out much better than initially proposed. New York’s overwhelming budget gap was bridged by billions in federal relief funds delivered from the American Rescue Plan, sparing the need for harsh proposed cuts.
The following are some of the wins and losses as identified through a careful analysis by the experts in our union’s Legislative and Political Action Department.
Office of Children and Family Services
The enacted budget rejects the Governor’s proposal to close four OCFS residential facilities — Brentwood RC, Goshen Secure, Red Hook RC, and Columbia Girls Secure — with only six months’ notice.
The terms of the budget ensure that Brentwood RC and Goshen Secure will be funded for the next fiscal year, stopping any closure during the FY22 fiscal year.
However, while the budget does allow for the closure of Red Hook and Columbia Girls Secure facilities with six months’ notice, CSEA activists successfully lobbied to ensure that all CSEA employees at those facilities will be able to transfer to a nearby OCFS facility.
Child care funding
The influx of federal funds from the American Rescue Plan helped CSEA to successfully secure significant increases in childcare funding. We made historic progress on priority agenda items for CSEA/ VOICE members.
- $1.3 billion in child care stabilization grants. These are upfront payments that can be used for wages and benefits.
- Creation of a statewide standard of 24 paid absences per child, per year.
- A statewide maximum of 10 percent co-pay of income above the federal poverty line for those in need of child care.
- $225 million to expand eligibility up to 200 percent of the federal poverty line.
- $25 million for essential worker scholarships to pay for child care.
- 12-month eligibility for child care subsidies (an increase from six months).
- $50 million increase in child care facilitated enrollment.
- $40 million for personal protective equipment (PPE).
- $100 million to expand access in child care deserts.
Aid to Localities
The enacted budget rejects the Governor’s proposed cuts to Aid and Incentives to Municipalities (AIM) and Video Lottery Terminal (VLT) funding streams and restores funding for our localities to last year’s budgeted levels.
The enacted budget provides significant increases in local road and bridge funding. This includes an additional $100 million in funding through the Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS), $100 million for “extreme winter recovery,” and $100 million for a new program called the City Touring Roads initiative for cities, towns, and villages.
The budget provides a real property tax “circuit breaker.” This program will provide taxpayers earning less than $250,000 per year with a tax credit for property taxes paid above a certain percentage of income. Benefits under this program will be between $250 and $350. The program is in place for tax years 2021-2023.
Office of Mental Health
One of CSEA’s top priorities in budget negotiations was to reject the Executive’s proposed closure of 200 state-operated inpatient beds and 100 State Operated Community Residences (SOCR) beds in addition to the proposed closure of Rockland Children’s Psychiatric Center.
While the closure of Rockland Children’s Psychiatric Center was rejected, the legislature got rolled on bed closures.
Despite arming legislators with all the pertinent information on why these beds are so desperately needed, especially with the increased stresses cause by the pandemic, the Senate and Assembly gave in and accepted the closure of these beds. In order to eliminate these beds, they must be empty for 90 days.
CSEA President Mary E. Sullivan immediately issued a public statement blasting legislators for their abandonment of the neediest New Yorkers and the services provided to them by CSEA members. “The Governor, Senate and Assembly have failed New Yorkers by reducing access to inpatient mental health treatment,” Sullivan said. “At such a critical time for the mental health of our state, they are abandoning those who need the services the most. Shameful.”
Revenues to support future public services
The budget includes roughly $5 billion in new revenues, including higher personal income tax rates for taxpayers earning more than $1 million, with new brackets added at $5 million and $25 million; an increase in the corporate franchise tax; and legalizing mobile sports betting. These new revenues will help reduce out year budget deficits and support maintaining public services that CSEA members provide.
— Mark M. Kotzin
