Tentative State Budget
Campus Community:
As many of you have heard, yesterday the Governor and two leaders of the State Senate and Assembly reached agreement on a tentative State budget. The budget now awaits Legislative approval, although that is expected since the Democrats control both legislative bodies.
I am very pleased to announce that the projected / possible 10% community college base aid cuts did not materialize in the tentative budget, and the 10% cuts were restored.
In an email to the Presidents this morning, SUNY Vice Chancellor Dennis Golladay noted: “Assuming that the Legislature goes along with the state budget agreements worked out by the Governor, the Speaker, and the Majority Leader . . . the proposed budget deal calls for the restoration of the 10% cut for community colleges in the original Executive Budget. Not only that, but it looks as if the capital projects that had local sponsor approval (including submissions by Adirondack and Onondaga) also made it in. From what I’m hearing, TAP also was restored to its current formula.”
In addition, Michael Trunzo, the Chief Legislative Officer for SUNY, noted that the tentative budget includes the following community colleges provisions: a. 10% reduction to base-aid restored; b. $27.7M is devoted from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act; (ARRA) State Fiscal Stabilization “Education” Account and $7.7M devoted from the “Other Government Services” Account; and Categorical aid remains at proposed levels.”
DH
