OLIVER! Opens Friday at WPPAC

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      WPCNR STAGE DOOR. From White Plains Performing Arts Center. November 18, 2008:  The full cast has been announced for a new production of the Tony Award-winning musical Oliver! at the White Plains Performing Arts Center, Westchester’s professional regional theatre located in White Plains, NY. The show opens November 20 – December 14, 2008 as the opening production of the theatre’s Bank of America Broadway Classics series.



Work House Boys Rehearsing for Friday’s Opening Night at the


 WPPAC production of OLIVER!


 


 


Work H


 


 


 


 


 


 



    


Based on the classic tale of the orphan boy who asked for more, Lionel Bart’s musical masterpiece Oliver! features all the timeless Charles Dickens’ characters singing such popular songs as “Food, Glorious Food,” “I’d Do Anything,” “Consider Yourself,” and “As Long As He Needs Me.”


 


Starring in the production are Sidney J. Burgoyne as Fagin and Natalie Venetia Belcon as Nancy. Featured in the cast are Cyrilla Baer (Widow Corney), Jason Edward Cook (Artful Dodger), Alex Covington (Charlotte), John P. Geraghty (Workhouse Boy), Christopher Gray (Workhouse Boy), Steven Hauck (Mr. Brownlow), David Gabriel Lerner (Oliver),Geoff Lutz (Noah Claypole), Benjamin Milan-Polisar (Workhouse Boy), Jan Neuberger (Mrs. Sowerberry/Mrs. Bedlow), Alex Pasieka (Workhouse Boy), Gabriel Rush (Workhouse Boy), Roland Rusinek (Mr. Bumble), William Ryall (Mr. Sowerberry/Dr. Grimwig), Noah Silverman (Workhouse Boy), Rochelle Smith (Bet), Travis Taber (Knife Grinder), Christian Whelan (Bill Sykes).


 


Sidney J. Burgoyne appeared as The Padre in WPPAC’s inaugural production of Man of La Mancha, and was the director of the theatre’s highly acclaimed productions of Ragtime and Camelot.  Natalie Venetia Belcon is known to audiences for her roles in the Broadway production of Avenue Q (as the original Gary Coleman) and for her starring role in Lincoln Center’s The Glorious Ones.


 


      Oliver! is directed by Luke Yankee, with Choreography by Melissa Rae Mahon and Sean McKnight, Musical Direction by Christopher D. Littlefield, Scenic Design by Michael Hotopp, Costume Design by T. Michael Hall, Lighting Design by Thom Weaver and Sound Design by Wallace Flores. Janet Friedman is Production Stage Manager. The show is produced by Jack W. Batman for the White Plains Performing Arts Center.


 


Oliver!, winner of three 1963 Tony Awards, has Music, Lyrics and Book by Lionel Bart and is based on “Oliver Twist” by Charles Dickens. This production of Oliver! is sponsored by Entergy.


 


Tickets are $60.00/$50.00. Season subscriptions and gift certificates are also available. Bank of America Broadway Classics series begins with Oliver! (November 20 – December 14, 2008), followed by A Little Night Music (March 5 – 22, 2009) and Hello, Dolly! (April 30 – May 17, 2009).


 


White Plains Performing Arts Center is located on the third level of City Center at the corner of Main and Mamaroneck in downtown White Plains, NY, just 30 minutes from midtown Manhattan, and there is plenty of convenient parking. For tickets please call 914.328.1600 or buy them online at www.wppac.com.


 


White Plains Performing Arts Center brings innovative and eclectic entertainment and classic Broadway musicals to appreciative audiences who live throughout the county and beyond. It is Westchester’s only professional regional theatre and is now in its second season. Under the direction of Executive Producer Jack W. Batman, the 410-seat, $6 million theatre also hosts local, national and international performing artists whose work reflects Westchester’s diverse population. The 2008-2009  Season is sponsored by the City of White Plains, Bank of America, Entergy and other major corporations, government and private foundations and individual donors.

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City Spreads Word:Foreclosure Help Meeting in Battle Hill Tues – Half Dozen Help

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WPCNR THE HOUSING NEWS. By John F. Bailey. November 17, 2008: Westchester Residential Opportunities will hold a public meeting in the Battle Hill Community Room at the Battle Hill condominiums Tuesday evening at 7 PM to acquaint White Plains homeowners with their foreclosure counseling service.


The city awarded WRO $30,000 to pay for a foreclosure expert to counsel White Plains residents facing mortgage payment and possible foreclosure action as to how they can avoid foreclosure proceedings.


Within the last two weeks, notices of sale of auction of three residences foreclosed for prices ranging from $680,000  on Concord Avenue in Fisher Hill, and $1,000,000 on New York Avenue in Prospect Park and  in Gedney Farms have been advertised.


Commissioner of Planning, Susan Habel told WPCNR that in the last five months,  the WRO foreclosure expert helped 6 to 7 homeowners in White Plains in foreclosure proceedings. Ms Hable said several homeowners were able with the counselor intervention, keep their homes by arranging less stressful payment schedules with their lenders. She said that a couple of homeowners were in such a poor financial situation that, with the counselor’s help they were to short-sale their homes for the amount of their outstanding mortgages, enabling the owners to preserve their credit ratings.


 Habel said the city has sent out notices of tomorrow evening’s meeting and sent out notices of availability of the WRO’s counselingservice to all homeowners receiving notices of foreclosure proceedings.

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Homeland Security Issues New Regs for Private Aircraft Departing U.S.

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WPCNR FLYWAYS. From Department of Homeland Security. November 17, 2008: The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced today additional measures to strengthen private aircraft security by requiring more detailed information about arriving and departing private aircraft and persons onboard, within a timeframe necessary for the department to assess the risks that certain international flights may pose to national security. 


“We’re placing considerable emphasis on raising security in the general aviation sector,” said Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff.  “By getting basic electronic information in advance, like we do with commercial aircraft, we are able to substantially reduce a vulnerability.”



The final rule will require pilots of private aircraft to send U.S. Customs and Border Protection their electronic manifest data relative to all people traveling onboard.  The following information must be sent one hour prior to departure for flights arriving into or departing from the United States by filing manifest data through the Electronic Advanced Passenger Information System or an approved alternate system:



·        Advance notice of arrival information;


·        Advance notice of departure information;


·        Aircraft information to foster aircraft identification; and


·        Complete passenger and crew manifest data



The final rule announced today results from more than 3,000 comments received from the Advance Information on Private Aircraft Arriving and Departing the United States notice of proposed rulemaking published in September 2007. The final rule has been sent to the Federal Register for publication and is currently available at www.cbp.gov.


 

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Older Than Dirt

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WPCNR REMINISCING. November 15, 2008: The following  reminices have been going around, and in case you have not read it. It may stir a fond memory or two on a  depressing November day.


 







OLDER THAN DIRT









 















‘Someone asked the other day, ‘What was your favorite fast food when you were growing up?’








 







‘We didn’t have fast food when I was growing up,’ I informed him. ‘All the food was slow.’ 

‘C’mon, seriously. Where did you eat?’








 










 










 





‘It was a place called ‘at home,” I explained. ! ‘Mom cooked every day and when Dad got home from work, we sat down together at the dining room table, and if I didn’t like what she put on my plate I was allowed to sit there until I did like it.’










 












By this time, the kid was laughing so hard I was afraid he was going to suffer serious internal damage, so I didn’t tell him the part about how I had to have permission to leave the table. But here are some other things I would have told him about my childhood if I figured his system could have handled it:










 










 





Some parents NEVER! owned their own house, wore








Levis , set foot on a golf course, traveled out of the country or had a credit card. In their later years they had something called a revolving charge card. The card was good only at Sears Roebuck. Or maybe it was Sears & Roebuck. Either way, there is no Roebuck anymore. Maybe he died.










 












My parents never drove me to soccer practice. This was mostly because we never had heard of soccer. I had a bicycle that weighed probably 50 pounds, and only had one speed, (slow). We didn’t have a television in our house until I was 5. It was, of course, black and white, 










 












I was 13 before I tasted my first pizza, it was called ‘pizza pie.’ When I bit into it, I burned the roof of my mouth and the cheese slid off, swung down, plastered itself against my chin and burned that, too. It’s still the best pizza I ever had.










 












We didn’t have a car until I was 4. It was an old black Dodge.











I never had a telephone in my room. The only phone in the house was in the living room and it was on a party line. Before you could dial, you had to listen and make sure some people you didn’t know weren’t already using the line.










 










 





Pizzas were not delivered to our home. But milk was.










 










 










 





All newspapers were delivered by boys and all boys delivered newspapers my brother delivered a newspaper, six days a week. It cost 7 cents a paper, of which he got to keep 2 cents. He had to get up at










 










6AM








every morning. On Saturday, he had to collect the 42 cents from his customers. His favorite customers were the ones who gave him 50 cents and told him to keep the change. His least favorite customers were the ones who seemed to never be home on collection day.










 










 










 





Movie stars kissed with their mouths shut. At least, they did in the movies. Touching someone else’s tongue with yours was called French kissing and they didn’t do that in movies. I don’t know what they did in French movies. French movies were dirty and we weren’t allowed to see them










 










 












If you grew up in a generation before there was fast food, you may want to share some of these memories with your children or grandchildren. Just don’t blame me if they bust a gut laughing. 










 





Growing up isn’t what it used to be, is it?








 







MEMORIES from a friend:








 










 










 





My Dad is cleaning out my grandmother’s house (she died in December) and he brought me an old Royal Crown Cola bottle. In the bottle top was a stopper with a bunch of holes in it. I knew immediately what it was, but my daughter had no idea. She thought they had tried to make it a salt shaker or something. I knew it as the bottle that sat on the end of the ironing board to ‘sprinkle’ clothes with because we didn’t have steam irons. Man, I am old.







How many do you remember? 

Head lights dimmer switches on the floor. 
Ignition switches on the dashboard.
Heaters mounted on the inside of the fire wall. 
Real ice boxes.
Pant leg clips for bicycles without chain guards. 
Soldering irons you heat on a gas burner.
Using hand signals for cars without turn signals. 

Older Than Dirt Quiz:








 










 










Count all the ones that you remember not the ones you were told about







Ratings at the bottom.







1 Blackjack chewing gum
2. Wax Coke-shaped bottles with colored sugar water 
3. Candy cigarettes
4. Soda pop machines that dispensed glass bottles 
5. Coffee shops or diners with tableside juke  boxes 
6 . Home milk delivery in glass bottles with cardboard stoppers 
7. Party lines
8. Newsreels before the movie 
9. P.F. Flyers
10. Butch wax 
11. TV test patterns that came on at night after the last show and were there until TV shows started again in the morning. (there were only 3 channels) 
12. Peashooters 
13. Howdy Doody 
14. 45 RPM records 
15. S& H greenstamps 
16 Hi-fi’s
17. Metal ice trays with lever 
18. Mimeograph paper
19 Blue flashbulb
20. Packards
21. Roller skate keys
22. Cork popguns 
23. Drive-ins
24. Studebakers
25. Wash tub wringers 

If you remembered 0-5 = You’re still young
If you remembered 6-10 = You are getting older 
If you remembered 11-15 = Don’t tell your age,
If you remembered 16-25 = You’re older than dirt! 

I might be older than dirt but those memories are the best part of my life. 

Don’t forget to pass this along!! 
Especially to all your really OLD friends…

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County Schedules 2.7% Tax Increase Even After Cuts.

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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From Westchester County Department of Communications. (EDITED) November 15, 2008: Westchester County Executive Andrew Spano issued a $1.773 Billion 2009 Budget today, calling for a 2.7% County Property Tax increase.


  “Yet, even with extensive cuts, that is not enough to hold the line on taxes,” Spano said. “It is our loss of $26 million in revenues that is causing county taxes to go up 2.97 percent.”

County taxes account for about 15-18 percent of a taxpayer’s property tax bill, Spano said. The remainder comes from taxes levied by schools, local governments and special districts. The exact impact of the county tax increase on a property owner varies from community to community, due to difference assessment practices.

Spano’s budget now goes to the Board of Legislators, which has until Dec. 27 to approve a final spending plan for next year.  


The Details:


 


 


Despite a loss of about $26 million in revenues and an increase of more than $20 million in energy costs and mandated expenses, County Executive Andy Spano today proposed a budget for 2009 that decreases county spending from this year.  

“The economic environment we face today as well as into the foreseeable future has and will continue to have an effect on every resident of Westchester County,” Spano said. “ I am well aware of the tax burden placed on our residents from all taxing districts and how many are finding it difficu lt to make ends meet.”
        


 He added, “My goal is to continue to keep our county taxes down; to share services with local governments so they can reduce costs; and to continue to be fiscally responsible. At the same time, we must continue to protect the safety and well-being of every Westchester resident and maintain our quality of life.”

Spano described the challenges of the budget as “unprecedented” due to the nationwide recession. “We have a $46 million hole in our budget to close,” said Spano, referring to a loss of $26 million in revenues from state aid, interest on investments and the mortgage tax ; and a $20 million increase in costs beyond the county’s control. 

To reduce county spending, every line in the county budget was examined.


  • While there are no layoffs in the budget, 52 vacant positions would be eliminated for a total of 146 positions since he first took office.
  • There will be no purchases of vehicles, and overtime and equipment purchases have been reduced significantly.
  • All  costs for the amusement part of Playland will be borne by patrons, not by taxpayers, saving another $3.3 million.
  • The Department of Community Mental Health has been restructured.
  • There will be no raises in 2009 for commissioners, department heads and other managers who are not in a union.  

 “To minimize the impact on the taxpayers of Westchester, I have slashed discretionary spending so that the 2009 budget is actually less than what was budgeted for 2008,” Spano said. “The gross budget for 2009 is $1,773,479,195. All discretionary spending except that which impacts the health and safety of the county has been reduced. I have done what I believe our residents have been doing in paring down their own spending.”

  “Yet, even with these extensive cuts, that is not enough to hold the line on taxes,” Spano said. “It is our loss of $26 million in revenues that is causing county taxes to go up 2.97 percent.”

County taxes account for about 15-18 percent of a taxpayer’s property tax bill. The remainder comes from taxes levied by schools, local governments and special districts. The exact impact of the county tax increase on a property owner varies from community to community, due to difference assessment practices.

Spano’s budget now goes to the Board of Legislators, which has until Dec. 27 to approve a final spending plan for next year.  

“For the foreseeable future, we all will be affected by the economic downturn,” Spano said. “I continue to be concerned about the welfare of our residents-those on fixed incomes, those who ar e unemployed, those who have seen their savings disappear and those who have lost their homes. I assure you that I will continue to protect our taxpayers and will still provide the services the public needs.”

Here are highlights of the budget:

REVENUES


Due to forces beyond the county’s control, the government is facing a tremendous loss of revenue.


  • Mortgage Tax revenue is budgeted at $16.8 million for 2009, reflecting a decrease of $11.9 million from the 2008 budget and more than $15 million less than actual  receipts in 2007.
  • Interest on Investments is down $4.8 million from 2008.
  • Loss of state aid is expected to be at least $9.6 million
  • Sales Tax revenue growth is projected to grow only 1 percent next year. 


REQUIRED EXPENDITURES

As it deals with loss of revenue, the county must also address increased expenditures beyond its control:


  • $3.6 million increase in fuel costs for the Bee-Line bus system
  • $1.15 million increase in Para-transit due to increased ridership as well as increased fuel costs.
  • $5.7 million increase in the cost of utilities for the county as a whole. One reason for this is that Entergy’s contract to supply low-cost power to schools and governments expire at the end of this year. Despite the county’s requests to continue the contract, Entergy has refused, causing utility rates to increase for all these entities.
  • $2.7  million a dded in legal fees from the fair housing lawsuit and from court-ordered property tax reductions for “certiorari” cases
  • $4.9 million increase in the cost of state-mandated programs for Children with Special Needs
  • $2.4 million increase in the cost of Medicaid

 

MISC.


The budget also includes the following:


  • No decrease for contract agencies. These non-profits will be held at 2008 levels.
  • The county, as required by law, will continue to fund the federal Help Americans Vote Act (HAVA).  Although costs have gone up since 2005, municipalities have been held harmless.
  • Money is included in the budget to fund negotiated labor contracts.
  • There is no increase in Bee-Line bus fares, but there will be an increase of $1 per ride for Para transit rides
  • Support for the Westchester Medical Center will be decreased to a net of $13.5 million.
  • The county’s Special Studies account has been eliminated. Money not spent from 2008 will be used on global warming, autism and performance-based management initiatives.

 

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YEAR 2001 COMMITTEE PAC Reports for 06,07, 08 Posted Online

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WPCNR MAIN STREET JOURNAL. Special to WPCNR – November 13, 2008 – Albany, NY –  The New York State Board of Elections has posted online for public viewing recent financial disclosure reports filed by the White Plains-based YEAR TWO THOUSAND ONE COMMITTEE PAC (political action committee) headed by John Ioris. Posted are the periodic reports dated July 2008,  January 2008, July 2007, January 2007, July 2006, and January 2006.

 

The reports filed with the Board of Elections provide information identifying contributors to the PAC, amounts contributed, and expenses by the PAC. 

 

Leaders of the White Plains Democratic City Committee have brought a court case seeking to force disclosure of more details about the PAC’s finances. They have charged that the PAC spent excessive money in support of Mayor Delfino’s past re-election. Ioris has said nothing improper was done. According to a report in The Journal News, in September, New York State Supreme Court Judge Francis Nicolai ordered the PAC to file forms with the New York State Board of Elections identifying recipients of money it has spent since July 2005.

 

The reports are identified as having been posted by the state computer on November 13,2008.

 

The Board of Elections reports are posted  for all to see at: http://www.elections.state.ny.us:8080/plsql_browser/getfiler2?filerid_in=A38026

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Legislators Welcoming But Wary of Playland Admission Charge Plan

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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From County Board of Legislators. November 13, 2008: County legislators reacted favorably to the County Executive’s announcement today that his proposed 2009 county operating budget will not include a taxpayer subsidy for Playland Amusement Park.  The legislators were quick to point out that they will of course more thoroughly examaine the proposal in the as part of its upcoming comprehensive review of the entire operating budget.  


 


 



 



County Board Chair Bill Ryan (D,I,WF-White Plains) said that removing the taxpayer subsidy and improving park operations has been a goal shared by the legislature and the county executive.



“For decades, families have enjoyed Playland. Everyone has had a great time there.  It’s important that we continue to offer this great recreational opportunity and at the same time find revenue other than the property tax to operate it,” said Ryan.  



County Legislator José Alvarado (D-Yonkers), Budget & Appropriations Committee Chair, commented that “the proposal from the County Executive addresses a longtime County Board request to reduce the amount of tax levy dollars needed to support Playland.”  



County Legislator Ken Jenkins (D-I-WF, Yonkers), Chair of the Government Operations Committee, noted that the County Board’s getting behind the Rye Playland Master Plan’s proposal which recommended, among many other improvements, removing third party concessions from running the rides at Playland has proven to be a prudent investment.  



“The county executive’s announcement demonstrates that the County Board’s decision to fund the Playland Master Plan’s recommendations has proven to be a prudent financial investment,” Jenkins said. 


County Legislator Judy Myers (D-WF, Rye) whose district includes Rye Playland said, “Removing the taxpayer subsidy accomplishes important goals — reducing the pressure on property taxes while preserving open space and what is a local and national historic treasure.”



The 80-year old Rye Playland is the country’s only publicly owned amusement park and a registered national historic site.

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Mayor Warns Against Tax-Shifting from State to Cities in New Website

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WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT. From The Mayor’s Office. November 13, 2008: Mayor Joseph M.Delfino of the City of White Plains today announced support for the new public advocacy Web site, www.StopTheTaxShift.org.  The Web site, which was developed as a project of the New York State Conference of Mayors (NYCOM), is designed to help policymakers, the media, the public and New York’s taxpayers fully understand the property tax impact of decisions made in Albany.


“This Web site will be extremely beneficial in helping us explain, to both our legislators and our constituents, that what goes on at the State Capitol has a tremendous impact here in White Plains,” said Mayor Delfino.  “As much as local officials try to make this point, it is difficult to fully appreciate that Albany’s actions can force higher local taxes.  StopTheTaxShift.org clarifies this relationship in a way that everyone –  politicians, local officials, and our residents – can understand.”   



Mayor Delfino and other mayors from throughout New York unveiled StopTheTaxShift.org while meeting in Albany to formulate their legislative priorities for 2009.  In addition to identifying the impact the state’s municipal aid program – AIM – has on the property tax, StopTheTaxShift.org also analyzes the real impact numerous state mandates have on the capacity of local officials to manage government costs consistent with the desires of their constituents.  The Web site’s home page also features a more descriptive Mandate of the Week, where each week a new mandate will be highlighted. 


To put the “tax shift” into perspective, the Web site also includes a blog from Joe Taxpayer.  Joe will discuss in practical terms the on-the-street impact state mandates and potential aid cuts would have on New York’s real property taxpayer.  At a time when the current economic downturn is affecting every aspect of family and business finances in New York, Joe Taxpayer’s common sense outlook will help all New Yorkers fully appreciate the impact of Albany’s actions.


“I encourage everyone to take the time to go to StopTheTaxShift.org and learn about the problems state tax shifting can cause,” concluded Mayor Delfino.  “Together, we can protect property taxpayers from state tax shifts.”


 

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Governor Delivers More Bad News: Wields Sharp Even Scythe

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WPCNR ALBANY ROUNDS. From the Governor’s Press Office. November 12, 2008 (Edited): Governor David A. Paterson today announced a comprehensive, two-year $5.2 billion deficit reduction plan that will entirely eliminate the State’s $1.5 billion current-year shortfall, protect against further declines in revenue in a volatile economic climate, and make a substantial down payment on next year’s deficit. The governor defended his state school aid cuts and calls for delay of union raises, by saying he was slowing the rate of growth.



New York Governor Patterson in White Plains last week.


Governor Paterson’s plan would close the State’s $1.5 billion current-year shortfall, while also providing a $548 million cushion against additional declines in revenue during 2008-09. These proposed actions would also reduce the State’s 2009-10 deficit from $12.5 billion to $8.8 billion and four-year budget deficit by from $47.0 billion to $35.9 billion.


Of immediate interest to White Plains, (currently in a contract dispute with its teachers who are working without a contract) , the deficit reduction plan confirms that the governor  would decrease the rate of growth in School Aid in the 2008-09 School Year by $836 million statewide ($585 million in the  current 2008-09 State Fiscal Year) — a possibility that the White Plains School Board has dismissed to date as not being actually in play. This year the School District received a  $1.4 Million (9.35%) increase over 2007-2008  school aid. 


 If the increase was halved, for example the district would have a $600,000 decrease this year, which could be  met by the school’s available fund balance of about $8 Million.


Statewide  2008-09 School Year School Aid would still increase by $1.0 billion or 5 percent compared to 2007-08 and total $20.7 billion. Moreover, the level of School Aid spending statewide in 2008-09 would represent an increase of $6.2 billion or 43 percent compared to 2003-04. According to the US Census Bureau, New York spent on average $14,884 per pupil on its public schools in 2006 – the highest amount of any State and 63 percent above the national average.


 



“The deficit reduction plan I have put forward today represents a series of difficult choices across virtually every area of State spending,” said Governor Paterson. “The only way we are going to overcome this unprecedented crisis is through shared sacrifice. I look forward to engaging in a productive dialogue with the Legislature about the actions we must take at next week’s special session to address our State’s record budget deficits.”


After implementing Governor Paterson’s deficit reduction plan, 2008-09 All Funds spending would still total $119.2 billion, an increase of $3.1 billion or 2.7 percent over the previous year. State Operating Funds spending would total $77.0 billion, an increase of $1.9 billion or 2.5 percent. Inflation is currently projected to be 4.2 percent for 2008-09.

Governor Paterson continued: “The unfortunate reality is that many worthy programs with laudable goals, some of which I have supported in the past, will have to experience reductions in funding. These are not decisions that I have made lightly. With the State facing the largest deficits in its history, we have no other option but to make these tough but necessary choices. In times like this, government needs to put the public interest ahead of special interests – this budget plan tackles this financial crisis head-on and addresses the State’s collective needs for fiscal responsibility.”

Governor Paterson’s plan includes the following major components. A full listing of all proposed actions is also attached.

School Aid (Fiscal Year 2008-09 Savings: $585 million, Fiscal Year 2009-10 Savings: $844 million).
The deficit reduction plan would decrease the rate of growth in School Aid in the 2008-09 School Year by $836 million ($585 million in the 2008-09 State Fiscal Year). Even after these actions, 2008-09 School Year School Aid would still increase by $1.0 billion or 5 percent compared to 2007-08 and total $20.7 billion. Moreover, the level of School Aid spending statewide in 2008-09 would represent an increase of $6.2 billion or 43 percent compared to 2003-04. According to the US Census Bureau, New York spent on average $14,884 per pupil on its public schools in 2006 – the highest amount of any State and 63 percent above the national average.

Medicaid/Health Care (2008-09 Savings: $572 million, 2009-10 Savings $1.2 billion).
The deficit reduction plan recommends $1.8 billion in Medicaid and other health care savings over the next two years. Major actions include reducing reimbursement rates and eliminating trend factor increases across all sectors, recouping Early Intervention overpayments from New York City, using unspent Graduate Medical Education (GME) funds for financial plan relief, and discontinuing funding for several HCRA programs. Additionally, to ensure that the insurance industry contributes its fair share of savings, assessments levied upon that industry will be increased.

Even after these actions, 2008-09 State Funds Medicaid spending is still expected to increase over the next year by $145 million or 1 percent to $15.3 billion. Additionally, State Funds Medicaid spending is still projected to increase by $1.5 billion or 10 percent in 2009-10.

Other Education-related Programs (2008-09 Savings: $36 million, 2009-10 Savings: $16 million).
The deficit reduction plan recommends a number of other savings actions in education-related areas outside of School Aid. These include reduced funding for grants awarded by the NYS Council on the Arts by $7 million and reduced funding for Bundy Aid to private colleges and universities by $2 million. It would also reduce library aid by $20 million on a one-time basis and continue to provide reimbursement to non-public schools for attendance-taking consistent with the methodology used in 2007-08 thereby saving $7 million.

Higher Education (2008-09 Savings: $115 million, 2009-10 Savings: $233 million).
The deficit reduction plan recommends increasing both SUNY (from $4,350 to $4,950) and CUNY (from $4,000 to $4,600) annual undergraduate tuition by $600. Tuition for these institutions has not been increased since 2003-04, and before that in 1995-96. Spring 2009 tuition will increase by $300. The full annual $600 increase would become effective in the following academic year.

The new recommended tuition rates are below 2003-04 levels after adjusting for inflation ($5,100 for SUNY, $4,700 for CUNY), and also below those at all public colleges in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. Moreover, even after this increase, SUNY and CUNY tuition would still be below the $5,000 threshold for Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) awards, ensuring that the neediest students would have their entire tuition costs covered.

In a departure from more than 30-year old practice of using 100 percent of the revenue resulting from tuition increases to offset General Fund spending on higher education, SUNY and CUNY will be allowed to retain 10 percent of the fiscal benefit from the 2008-09 spring semester increase and 20 percent of the full annual increase in 2009-10 for increased investment.

Commensurate with the 10 percent reduction in operating support for SUNY and CUNY senior colleges already enacted earlier this year, the plan also reduces per-student base aid to community colleges by an average of 10 percent, from $2,675 to an average of $2,405. To recognize the disproportionately adverse impact that this reduction could have on smaller community colleges if applied in an across-the-board fashion, legislation will be proposed to reduce the impact of the proposal on these colleges, as follows: colleges with fewer than 3,000 full time equivalent students will have their base aid payments reduced by $160 per student; colleges with between 3,000 and 6,000 students will have their base aid payments reduced by $230; and colleges with more than 6,000 students will have their base aid payments reduced by $300. After these reductions, total State base operating aid support for community colleges will be $580 million.

Local Governments (2008-09 Savings: $134 million, 2009-10 Savings: $110 million).
The deficit reduction plan includes several actions related to local governments. The proposal eliminates $41 million in additional Aid and Incentives for Municipalities (AIM) funding for New York City that was added in the 2008-09 Enacted Budget. New York City will still receive an AIM payment of $205 million in 2008-09.

For municipalities outside of New York City, the plan would maintain 2009-10 AIM payments at 2008-09 levels, eliminating a previously scheduled $61 million increase. Even after these actions, AIM payments outside of NYC would still total $755 million in 2009-10, an increase of $290 million or 62 percent compared to 2004-05. Governor Paterson is also proposing to reduce 2009-10 VLT Impact Aid for 17 municipalities by 50 percent compared to 2008-09 levels and limit eligibility for this program to municipalities that already participate. Yonkers would not be impacted by this VLT Impact Aid proposal. Although these actions will not provide savings in the 2008-09 fiscal year, Governor Paterson believes it is important to enact these reductions now so that local governments will have an opportunity to prepare for these changes in State aid before the beginning of their 2009 fiscal years and to modify their spending accordingly to find cost efficiencies.

Workforce (2008-09 Savings: $137 million, 2009-10 Savings: $167 million).
Governor Paterson will partner with State employee unions to reduce personnel costs, and has proposed the following actions for collective bargaining: delaying salary payments for five-days worth of work during the current fiscal year until an employee leaves State service, and withholding the 3 percent, 2009-10 salary increase previously negotiated with several unions before the State’s finances deteriorated to their current level. He has proposed the following actions that do not require collective bargaining: requiring new State employee retirees to pay for a greater portion of their health care costs; requiring State employees and retirees to contribute to the Medicare Part B premiums; and rescinding a vacation exchange program for Management/Confidential employees.

Human Services (2008-09 Savings: $20 million, 2009-10 Savings: $75 million).
In the area of human services, major recommendations include partially reducing a cost-of-living adjustment for human service providers from 3.2 percent to 2.2 percent; reducing funding for the Neighborhood Preservation Program and Rural Preservation Program; delaying the phase-in of the “Bridges to Health” program; and eliminating a $3.0 million operating subsidy for the New York State Housing Authority (NYCHA), which has a $2.8 billion operating budget. Currently, no other local housing authority in the State besides NYCHA receives an operating subsidy.

Governor Paterson is recommending several actions that will help right-size the Office of Children and Family Services’ (OCFS) juvenile justice system. These actions include:

    – Closing Six Underutilized Youth Facilities: The Adirondack Residential Center in Clinton County, the Cattaraugus Residential Center and Great Valley Residential Center in Cattaraugus County, the Pyramid Reception Center in the Bronx, the Rochester Community Residential Home in Monroe County, and the Syracuse Community Residential Home in Onondaga County.
    – Downsizing Two Underutilized Youth Facilities: The Allen Residential Center in Delaware County and the Tryon Residential Center in Fulton County.
    – Closing Three Underutilized Evening Reporting Centers: These include the Capital District Evening Reporting Center in Albany County, the Buffalo Evening Reporting Center in Erie County, and the Syracuse Evening Reporting Center in Onondaga County.

The facilities recommended for closure or downsizing have an average vacancy rate of 63 percent. Great Valley and Rochester have 100 percent vacancy rates.

Overall, these actions will result in a 255 full-time equivalent reduction in the size of the OCFS workforce. The agency will make all possible efforts to ensure that this reduction is achieved through attrition.

Other Actions (2008-09 Savings: $424 million, 2009-10 Savings: $514 million).
The deficit reduction plan also includes a number of other actions in the areas of environmental conservation, economic development, and financial management.

During the August 2008 special session, funding for most new executive and legislative programs was reduced across-the-board by 50 percent and 6 percent, respectively. Governor Paterson is recommending reducing new legislative programs by 50 percent of remaining spending, commensurate with the reduction enacted for new executive programs.

Governor Paterson is also proposing to expand the current 5-cent deposit on beer and soda containers to water and other non-carbonated beverages, capture all unclaimed deposits, and use that funding to offset other financial support to the Environmental Protection Fund. Additionally, spending in the EPF would be reduced by $50 million, which would be transferred to the General Fund. Notwithstanding these budgetary actions, the EPF is still projected to have a year-end balance of $34 million, and there will be no impact on any current funding commitments for environmental conservation.

Governor Paterson’s plan would reduce funding for several economic development initiatives, including local tourism matching grants ($1.5 million), JOBS Now ($1.5 million), the Focus Research Center at Albany Nanotech/RPI ($2.6 million), Technology Transfer ($1 million), and Faculty Development programs ($1 million). It is also recommended that the Centers for Applied Research and Technology program be allowed to expire at the end of 2008, providing savings of $900,000.

Other proposals include transferring excess revenues from certain State authorities and special revenue accounts into the General Fund, including the New York Power Authority ($40 million in 2008-09, $25 million in 2009-10) the Dormitory Authority ($6 million in 2008-09), the Office of Temporary Disability Assistance’s federal administration account for child support enforcement activities ($100 million in 2008-09, $5 million in 2009-10), the Battery Park City Authority ($20 million in 2008-09, $250 million in 2009-10), and the Empire State Development Corporation ($60 million in 2008-09, $8 million in 2009-10). Transferring funds from the Battery Park City Authority would be negotiated with that organization’s board, the Office of the New York City Mayor and the Office of the New York City Comptroller. It is expected that any potential transaction regarding the BPCA would include a comparable financial benefit for New York City as well.

Additionally, $50 million in eligible capital expenses for affordable housing previously anticipated to be financed on a pay-as-you-go basis will be financed through bonding.

“Thus far, in partnership with the Legislature, New York has acted swiftly and responsibly to respond to a deteriorating fiscal environment. And we must do so again at next week’s special session by making hard choices, not looking for easy answers,” said Governor Paterson.

Governor Paterson continued: “Raiding our $1.2 billion in rainy day reserves sounds logical, but doing so would provide only a fraction of the funds we need, does nothing to address next year’s record deficits, threatens our State’s good credit rating, and leaves us with no options to meet year-end expenses if the downturn is worse than expected. Delaying action in hopes of help from Washington sounds sensible, but doing so sends a message to our nation’s leaders that we aren’t willing to solve our own problems. Raising taxes in special session sounds easy, but ignores the fact that overspending is at the root of our problem.”

Full Detail on the Governor’s Proposals can be found on the web at: www.budget.state.ny.us.


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County Begins $25 Admission Fee to Amusements at Playland Plus Pkng

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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From Westchester County Department of Communications. (EDITED)  November 12, 2008: The amusement section of Playland  Park will no longer be funded by tax dollars under a  new one pay admission plan, that will charge $25 for Westchester Residents and $30 for non-residents, (good for unlimited rides all day), with children under 36 inches tall admitted free,  plus  parking  charge for enjoying the historic Rye park unveiled today by County Executive Andy Spano.



Playland. Entertaining Westchester Since 1928




“Westchester property taxpayers will no longer subsidize the amusement park,” said Spano. “Instead, visitors to the amusement section of the park will pay all costs, both operational and capital. This will save our county property taxpayers about $3 million next year.”





He added, “Over the past several years, we have worked consistently to reduce the costs of the amusement area of Playland to our taxpayers. With this change, we will accomplish our goal to make the ride area a patron-paid-for park.”

In 2005, a card system (replacing tickets) was implemented,  so that revenues could be better monitored.  In 2007 and 2008, the county changed its financial relationships with owners of the rides, buying some (rather than leasing) to generate more revenue to the county.

As a consequence, the amount of taxpayer subsidy to the amusement area of the park has gone down. It was $4.37 million in 2006; $3.49 million in 2007; estimated at $3.17 million in 2008.

Spano’s proposal would affect only the amusement section of the park.

There would be a one-price entrance fee of $25 for residents and $30 for non-residents that would allow for unlimited use of the rides all day. There would be a $5 reduction for both residents and non residents who come at twilight. The  one-price fee for residents would also include miniature golf and entrance to the beach. Visitors from outside the county would have to pay extra for golf and beach entrance.   



Rye Beach Boardwalk, Playland Bathhouses. The vista was used in the movie, “Big,” Starring Tom Hanks. Just Part of the 1928 Slice of Americana, the Playland Amusement Park. Photo, WPCNR News Archive.



Non-riders entering the amusement section of the park to walk, watch the park’s entertainment or  to chaperone others would pay a modest entrance fee of $3 for residents and $5 for non-residents. If they later want to go on a ride they can purchase a ride card at $1 a point.



The Fabulous Ice Casino




As is the case now, there will be no charge for going to the Boardwalk,  pier, fishing arcade, seaside walk, museum, Fountain Plaza, fireworks viewing, food court, lake boating, Read Sanctuary, boathouse, kayak launch,  public picnic areas, Captain Hook’s Restaurant or the area by  mini-golf. Skating fees will continue for  the Ice Casino, although there will still be no entrance fee. 



The Boathouse and Playland Tower



Under Spano’s plan, children who are under 36 inches tall will be allowed in free, irrespective of whether they are residents or non-residents. These youngsters must be accompanied on the Kiddyland rides by an older person who would have to pay.

In addition, parking fees will be reduced to $4 weekdays and $5 weekends. (Currently they are  $5 on weekdays, $7 weekends and $10 on holidays.)

“People who spend many hours at the park on rides will save money with the new price structure,” Spano said.  

Playland is the only amusement park in the nation owned by a county government. It presently has National Historic Landmark status. It dates back to 1923-25 when the then county Parks Commission acquired 313 acres of property along Long Island Sound that included two existing amusement areas.

Since 1928 when it opened, Playland has been the county park system’s most visited park, drawing nearly 900,000 visitors, depending on weather. Of this, about 65 percent come from outside the county. The park will remain under the control of the county’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation, as a family-friendly park.

“We are not privatizing the park. We are saving tax dollars as we continue to make sure Playland is affordable and family-friendly,” said Spano. 


 

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