May 5 , 2003
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NYS BUDGET UPDATE ON THE ARTS
A Two House Budget Maintains the $6.6 Million Cut to the NYSCA budget
These are dramatic times in Albany. The Assembly and the Senate voted last week on a joint budget that reverses many of the Governor's cuts to education and Medicaid and provides new revenue to New York City. It is a $92.8 billion budget, adding $1.9 billion to the Governor's budget, and raises both the sales tax and income taxes on the wealthiest New Yorkers.
The NYSCA budget is contained within the education bill in the budget. That bill passed on Thursday, holding fast to the Governor's proposed $6.6 million cut to grants (15%) and $196,000 cut to administration.
The legislative leaders passed the entire spending plan, including taxes and revenues, by the end of Friday. The Governor has repeatedly vowed to veto the budget. The legislature appears determined to override the veto.
This
became particularly evident on Friday when the revenue bills, which are the hardest
for legislators to support, passed in the Assembly by a vote of 102 - 45 and in
the Senate by 55 - 5. These margins are above the two thirds majority needed for
an override. The bill included the increase to state sales tax for 2 years and
a 3 year surcharge on people in high income tax brackets.
The stage is
set for a political battle unlike anything we have seen in more than twenty years.
The Governor has 10 days to veto lines of the Legislatures budget and the legislators
are ready to do battle. An override would have to be on each line of the budget.
For Republicans this is a rebellion against their party leader, who has already
threatened retribution.
For more detailed information, you may be interested in reading the following articles published Monday May 5, 2003 |
The Alliance of New York State Arts Organizations has a 28-year history as New York's primary service association for community based arts and cultural organizations. The Alliance provides leadership and vision, and delivers services, resources and tools that strengthen community cultural organizations. The Alliance monitors, informs and mobilizes the field on statewide and national issues affecting the arts and assists local arts agencies in building community support and developing effective grassroots public policy.
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