Photo Courtesy of Sen. Addabbo’s Office
Sen. Addabbo said he believes that the upcoming budget “will meet the most important needs and concerns of New York residents.”
By Forum Staff
With the state budget deadline just a couple of days away, Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr. (D-Howard Beach) this week said this fiscal year he’s focused on fighting for veterans’ services, programs for senior citizens and disabled New Yorkers, education, health care and infrastructure funding.
“By April 1, we should have a state budget in place for the upcoming fiscal year that will meet the most important needs and concerns of New York residents,” Addabbo said. “To me, this means – among other issues – ensuring adequate funding for counseling, legal defense and other programs for veterans; protecting resources for New York City senior centers under Title XX; providing necessary support for New York City children in both public and private schools, and maintaining access to health care for the poor, elderly and disabled. It also means improving our roads, mass transit services and other vital components of our infrastructure.”
Addabbo also mentioned that he’s keeping an eye on federal budget movements, because, he warned, future action by the White House and Congress may at one point lead to significant cuts to important programs and services in New York.
“Our fiscal year in New York begins on April 1, but the federal fiscal year starts in October,” Addabbo noted. “As the United States Senate and House of Representatives begin to consider the President’s budget proposals and other items on his agenda, it is very possible that decisions in Washington will threaten to unravel progress we are working to achieve in New York. Ultimately, and unfortunately, this could mean the State Legislature and Governor may need to come back later in the year to make changes to the enacted State Budget to address federal cuts.”
The senator said early indications are that President Donald Trump is seeking to slash “domestic programs of vital importance to New York’s residents, including its most vulnerable populations. Possible infrastructure cuts may also affect such local transportation programs as the Select Bus Service proposal. I’m no fan of SBS, but I also don’t want to see Washington tampering with the City’s efforts to manage its own transit policies.”
Addabbo also pointed out that the state budget process is now in the final stages of the conference committee process in which the Senate and Assembly examine different issue areas, propose final funding and language bills, and work to come to agreement with Gov. Andrew Cuomo on the plan.
