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WPCNR ALBANY ROUNDS. By John F. Bailey. January 19, 2021 UPDATED 2:35 PM EST:

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo presented the clearest Budget Address today this reporter has ever withnessed.

He spelled out where New York State was if the new congress does not restore the $15 Billion cost of lost revenues New York experienced from the Coronavirus crisis in 2020. In addition he demanded the congress repeal the SALT legislation that costs New Yorkers an addition $15 Million in taxes to the federal government.

He said if congress failed to do this, New York State would sue the federal government for the $15 Billion deficit in revenues the state is faced with.

He noted if the state budget is not passed by April 1, that there would be no pay raises for state employees or the legislators.

He promised there would be a $2 Billion dollar cut to education aid(taking away the $2 Billion increase in education aid the legislature put in the 2020 budget). A $600 Million cut to Medicaid, without spelling out details. There would be a 14.7% state income tax increase on the top 1% of earners.

In the budget briefing still going on as of 2:30 PM, Robert Mujica, the State Budget Director said the current budget 2021-22 beginning April 1st, includes $ 6 Billion in federal reimbursement, with the rest of the $15 billion request coming next year 2022-23 Budget. Mr. Mujica said that if the state received the full $15 Billion, the tax increase of 10.2% for middle wage earners and the 14.7% increase for the top 1% of wage earners would “go away.”

If no aid is forthcoming by March 31, the proposed budget would be cut further, working with the state legislature requiring deeper across-the-board And every department would sustain additional cuts above the proposed 55 across-the-board cuts. If the $6 Billion was delivered, then no school district aid would be cut and aid to education could be increased, Mujica said in the news conference still ongoing.

Mujica indicated that recovery of the state of employment, businesses and revenues would take most likely into 2025 to return.

The budget is based on the assumption the state will receive $6 Billion in Federal funds, which will fund the shortfalls in revenues this year, with the rest of the aid coming in the 2022 budget. If the federal government does not

Governor Cuomo said what the federal government does this year 2021 will decide the future of the state of New York.

The Governor closed saying “Justice” was what the new government taking office tomorrow had to give to New York, by making the state financially whole.

The 30 minute address was to the point. Perfectly clear. It should be a model for budget presentations. Crisp, clear, concise with no financial obfuscation.