WPCNR'S ADAM IN ALBANY. By Assemblyman Adam T. Bradley, 89th L.D. January 23, 2007: I am pleased to announce an agreement on a variety of measures to improve our state’s budget process. The Assembly passed A.2755, which I sponsored, that will ensure greater transparency and fiscal responsibility. Throughout my tenure, I have continually advocated for more transparency in our budget process, but for too long, secrecy was the norm and the budget process lacked fiscal restraint, contributing to the steady rise of our middle-class taxes. We finally appear ready to push through these common-sense reforms.
One important reform proposed is shining some light on how the annual $200 million in “lump sum” appropriations is distributed. In the past, Governor Pataki simply provided each house with sums of money for local initiatives and the funds were later distributed. This agreement now will require each dollar to be outlined in the budget so the public, the legislature and governor can see how the money is being allocated. While this money is vital for our local communities, the practice was shrouded in secrecy and there was no accountability.
Other reforms outlined in the legislation include:
· Requiring the legislature to enact a balanced budget instead of proposing a balanced budget;
· Requiring that the fiscal impact of the budget on local governments be determined;
· Requiring the legislature to explain the fiscal impact of any changes made in the budget to the public;
· Increasing the state’s Rainy Day Reserve fund from 2 percent of general fund expenditures to 5 percent;
· Directing the state comptroller to establish a revenue forecast by March 5 if the governor and legislature fail to agree on a forecast by March 1; and
· Requiring the executive and legislative branches to meet quarterly to update financial plans.
Since my first days in Albany I have been pushing to reform the way state government works – we successfully opened up budget negotiations through public hearings and we passed two, consecutive on-time budgets. This legislation moves us closer to ensuring that we not only have on-time budgets every year, but that the process is transparent and produces balanced budgets.
