Cuomo’s Budget Win
The final state budget deal was a big win for Gov. Cuomo, who got his way on pretty much everything except ethics reform. Start with the best news: Cuomo came through for charter-school children. The freeze on charters’ per-pupil funding won’t officially end for another year, but these innovative public schools will get direct state grants to reduce the gap this year — and also get markedly more facilities funding.
Children attending these public schools still won’t get their full fair share of public funding, but they’ll be a lot closer than they’ve ever been. That’s the biggest real shift in state policy in the entire budget.
On the other hand, the gov also got his “economic development” funds OK’d, including another $400 million for the scandal-plagued Buffalo Billion projects.
Notably, there’s another $385 million for what the Empire Center’s E.J. McMahon calls “the biggest, murkiest pork-barrel slush fund Albany has ever seen” — the State and Municipal Facilities Program, which forks out cash with zero public scrutiny.
Over $200 million in SMFP cash has al- ready gone to some of the same entities (ab)used in the alleged bid-rigging that has top former Cuomo aides facing federal charges. And lawmakers even loosened the limits on what SMFP funds can go for. For better and worse, the budget also:
Moves more 16- and 17-year-olds out of the adult criminal courts — and jails.
Lets Uber and other ride-sharing companies function upstate.
Renews for five years the 421a tax break to promote both middle-class and “affordable housing” construction in the city.
Extends the populist “millionaires tax” for two years — and a larger, not-so-populist tax on health insurance for three years.
Adds to New York’s most-generous-inthe-nation tax subsidies for film, TV and other “Hollywood” production.
Invites a years-long legal battle with New Jersey by granting subpoena power over the Port Authority to a Cuomo-appointed official.
Good, bad and ugly, it was all largely the governor’s agenda. Whether or not it helps him run for the presidency in 2020, Andrew Cuomo is leaving his mark on New York.