N.Y. Senate to call for $540M for pre-K

ALBANY >> The state Senate’s budget resolution will include $540 million for universal prekindergarten and after-school programs in New York City and an expression of support for public campaign financing, according to people briefed on the resolution.

Though they lack the force of law, the one-house proposals from the state Senate and Assembly represent what the majorities want to see in the budget due April 1, which is being negotiated with Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Talks on a Senate budget resolution between a coalition of breakaway Democrats and the Republicans who control the chamber have been going on for days, highlighting the political differences within the group. Senate officials say

members could vote on the resolution late Thursday.

The Assembly measure, approved Wednesday, would give New York City the authority to impose an income tax surcharge to residents making $ 500,000 to fund universal prekindergarten — a provision Mayor Bill de Blasio supports.

The Senate proposal would include at least $ 540 million for city preK and after- school programs, said people briefed on it who spoke on condition of anonymity because they not authorized to speak on the matter. That would cover the full costs of de Blasio’s ambitious pre- K rollout, but without the tax he sought.

Even before the resolution was released, de Blasio lauded the development as well as movement in the Assembly, led by Speaker Sheldon Silver.

“Their powerful support for our children and families — combined with Speaker Silver and the state Assembly’s passage of a resolution last night that includes a funding stream in the form of a tax on the city’s highest earners — represents a new consensus sweeping across this state,” de Blasio said in a statement.

The Senate proposal also would include a broadly worded expression of support for public campaign financing, according to people who were briefed on the document but not authorized to speak publicly about it. Senate Republicans had been opposed to public financing of elections.

State Senate co- leader Jeff Klein also said Thursday the Dream Act, which would Act would open up state tuition assistance programs to students in the country illegally, is not in the Senate majority coalition’s budget proposal.

“It seems to have some problems with votes,” said Klein, co- sponsor of the bill.

“But I’m committed to make sure the Dream Act, which I support wholeheartedly, gets a fair vote in the state Senate.”