Assemblywoman Russell helps pass early state budget, delivers for North Country families

Budget increases minimum wage and education funding, provides 

tax credits for hiring veterans and boosts agricultural programs

            Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell (D-Theresa) announced the 2013-14 state budget she helped pass closes the state’s $1.4 billion budget gap, strengthens education funding, increases the state’s minimum wage, restores vital agricultural programs and provides businesses with tax credits to spur job creation.

            “This marks the third straight on time budget which helps North Country families and businesses, including our farmers,” Assemblywoman Russell said. “We continue to make progress by investing in our children, job growth and infrastructure.”

Investing in education

The budget provides $20.8 billion in total Formula Based Aids for the 2013-14 school year, a $936.6 million increase over the 2012-13 school year.

“In this tough economy, our schools have been struggling to provide our children with the quality education they deserve,” Assemblywoman Russell said. “This increase to school aid is a step in the right direction.”

            The final budget:

·        restores $517.5 million to Gap Elimination Adjustment (GEA);

·        increases Foundation Aid by $171.3 million over the executive budget;

·        increases expense-based aids by $228 million;

·        provides a total of $137.5 million to non-public schools;

·         restores $14.26 million to teacher resource and computer training centers;

·        increases funding to Adult Literacy Education by $1 million, for a total of $6.23 million;

·        increases aid to public libraries by $4 million;

·        creates and invests $20 million in Extended Learning Time grants; and

·        provides an additional $4 million for Early College High School grants.

It also includes an internal audit provision that would benefit North Country schools by making it optional for schools with fewer than 1,500 students to have an extra audit, Assemblywoman Russell noted.

“While this budget has made critical progress in bolstering our education funding, I will continue working hard to make sure North Country schools see further meaningful relief,” Assemblywoman Russell said.

Increasing higher education funding

The 2013-14 budget highlights the important role that community colleges play across the state. The increase of base aid to community colleges by $150 per-FTE means an additional $320,000 for Jefferson Community College.

The budget restores $27.8 million for SUNY Hospitals for a total of $87.8 million, helping keep SUNY Upstate strong and able to serve our community’s needs. In addition, the budget includes $1.7 million to SUNY child care centers, a $653,000 restoration from the governor’s budget.

“We must make sure our children have the skill set they need to be competitive in today’s job market,” Assemblywoman Russell said. “This increased funding will go a long way toward making sure a college education is more attainable and help strengthen the North Country’s workforce, creating a brighter future.”

Tax credit to businesses who hire Veterans

             The 2013-14 state budget includes tax credits to boost employment among veterans, many of whom are suffering from joblessness. A newly established veterans’ tax credit would be offered to businesses that hire veterans. For taxable years 2015 and 2016, this credit would be worth 10 percent of the wages paid to a qualified veteran during the first full year of employment or 15 percent of the wages if the veteran is disabled.

            “Our veterans are among one of the hardest hit groups by unemployment,” Assemblywoman Russell said. “This program will lend a helping hand to our veterans, providing them with the opportunity to land a quality job.”

Funding for agricultural programs

            “When our farmers succeed, our economy does better. That’s why this budget restores vital funding for agricultural programs, making sure that we can continue to grow our farming industry and boost our economy,” Assemblywoman Russell said.

            The 2013-14 budget contains funding for numerous agricultural programs, including:

·        Farm Viability Institute: $1.5 million;

·        New York Wine and Grape Foundation: $1 million;

·        Northern New York Agricultural Development: $500,000;

·        Dairy Profit Teams: $370,000;

·        Maple Producers Association: $125,000;

·        Tractor Rollover Protection Program: $100,000; and

·        New York Christmas Tree Farmers Association: $100,000.

The New York State Apple Growers Association will receive an increase of $794,000, for a total of $1 million to help overcome last year’s poor growing season, Assemblywoman Russell noted.

Increasing the state’s minimum wage

The 2013-14 state budget increases the state’s minimum wage to $9.00 per hour by 2016. The wage will gradually increase over the next three years from $7.25 to $8.00 per hour on Dec. 31, 2013; to $8.75 on Dec. 31, 2014; and then to $9.00 per hour on Dec. 31, 2015.

            “This increase answers the calls of so many North Country families who know the current minimum wage is out of step with the rising costs of necessities,” Assemblywoman Russell said. “The increase will put more money in the pockets of those most likely to spend it in our community thereby strengthening our local economy.”

Extending current tax rates

To continue providing a fairer tax system in New York, the 2013-14 state budget also extends the current tax rate first implemented in 2012, locking in the lowest tax rate for middle-class families in 60 years.

The budget extends this middle-class tax cut for three additional years and continues to provide that those making over $2 million per year – less than 1 percent of all New York residents – pay their fair share.

“Implementing this multi-year extension is critical for hardworking families,” Assemblywoman Russell said. “This will ensure New York remains affordable for low-and middle-income North Country families who are in need of tax relief the most.”

Transportation funding for infrastructure projects creates jobs

To promote job growth while rebuilding our infrastructure, the state budget includes $438.1 million for the Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program (CHIPs). This 21 percent increase is the first in five years and $75 million more than last year. It will be a welcome relief to local taxpayers and municipalities as well, noted Assemblywoman Russell. The budget authorizes $6.9 million for all municipalities within Jefferson County, and $9.2 million for all municipalities within St. Lawrence County.

“By investing in rehabilitating our roadways and bridges, we are putting people to work in our community and making our infrastructure safer for our families,” Assemblywoman Russell said.

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Assemblywoman Russell releases proposed school aid figures

Figures are based on Russell's bill A. 4609 which would greatly impact North Country Schools

Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell has obtained more detailed data on how North Country Schools will be impacted by the provisions of her School Funding Equity Act (A.4609).  The bill will have a dramatic impact on the local share of state foundation aid, benefiting both Jefferson and St. Lawrence County schools an average of 18% to 20% in additional foundation aid. 

Assemblywoman Russell has been working with the New York State Association of Small City School Districts on the School Funding Equity Act.  The association is currently suing the state because of its discriminatory funding policies.  The data has been calculated using the assumption that the state fully funds foundation aid.  But the data provides insight into how Russell’s bill would impact schools based on current funding levels. 

The association provided the percentage increases to schools in both counties as follows:

The amounts are an approximate estimation of the amount of funding our schools are being short-changed in basic school aid.  When the economy recovers and the school aid formula is fully funded, districts will continue to benefit by the same percentage unless the district’s wealth changes considerably. 

Some state lawmakers have rejected the formula as too costly in an effort to discredit the reforms, even though it just changes distribution of whatever money is provided to fund education.  They have also made assertions that the North Country will not benefit under the reforms according to their data.  Assemblywoman Russell believes the funding increases submitted by the New York State Association of Small City School Districts speaks the truth, that this bill can begin to stabilize our school districts and position them for sustainability moving forward.

  

Because there have been some minor adjustments since the data was compiled, the percentage change can only provide a ballpark figure of what local schools could expect if the reforms were enacted.  Multiplying each school districts foundation aid from last years budget by the percentage change anticipated with the School Funding Equity Act would yield roughly the following increases for area schools:

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Assemblywoman Addie Russell faults Senate for wrong approach to sales tax issue

The New York State Senate’s proposal to overhaul the entire process for counties and cities to increase their sales tax and sharing agreements related to sales tax revenue is not the solution for St. Lawrence County’s sales tax request.  The plan is like hitting the head of a common pin with a sledge hammer.  Similar proposals to turn the entire sales tax process on its head have failed to become law in the past.  We cannot afford to play games with people’s health and safety by placing county services in further jeopardy. 

I have introduced legislation in the New York State Assembly for several years, and have assurances that the Assembly is ready and able to pass the legislation into law.  That cannot occur without the Senate passing the same bill.  We have passed Jefferson County’s Sales tax requests during the same time period.

The people of St. Lawrence County deserve a straight forward piece of legislation that can be passed in both houses, just like every other county in the state with more than a 3% sales tax.  I continue to call upon my colleagues in the Senate to introduce the bill that allows for a sales tax increase for St. Lawrence County. 

It is our responsibility as state lawmakers to investigate these kinds of local tax increases, have discussions with local leaders, look at the financial data, and make a determination to support or oppose each home rule request.  The Senate’s plan to hide sales tax increases in the budget and remove the state’s oversight role is dangerous policy and not in the interests of taxpayers due to the reduced transparency and accountability.

The changes to existing law that need to be made to enable St. Lawrence County to increase its sales tax are in CAPS and bold:

        Introduced  by M. of A. RUSSELL -- read once and referred to the Commit-

         tee on Ways and Means

       AN ACT to amend the tax law, in relation to authorizing  the  county  of

         St.  Lawrence to impose an additional one percent of sales and compen-

         sating use taxes

         THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-

       BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

    1    Section  1.  Subparagraph (i) of the opening paragraph of section 1210

    2  of the tax law is amended by adding a new clause 41 to read as follows:

    3    (41) THE COUNTY OF ST.  LAWRENCE  IS  HEREBY  FURTHER  AUTHORIZED  AND

    4  EMPOWERED  TO  ADOPT  AND  AMEND  LOCAL  LAWS, ORDINANCES OR RESOLUTIONS

    5  IMPOSING SUCH TAXES AT A RATE THAT IS  ONE  PERCENT  ADDITIONAL  TO  THE

    6  THREE  PERCENT  RATE  AUTHORIZED ABOVE IN THIS PARAGRAPH FOR SUCH COUNTY

    7  FOR THE PERIOD BEGINNING  DECEMBER  FIRST,  TWO  THOUSAND  THIRTEEN  AND

    8  ENDING NOVEMBER THIRTIETH, TWO THOUSAND FIFTEEN;

    9    S  2.  Subparagraph  (iii) of the opening paragraph of section 1210 of

   10  the tax law, as amended by chapter 74 of the laws of 2010, is amended to

   11  read as follows:

   12    (iii) the maximum rate referred to in section twelve  hundred  twenty-

   13  four  of  this  article  shall  be  calculated  without reference to the

   14  following additional rates authorized in subparagraphs (i) and  (ii)  of

   15  this paragraph: one and one-half percent for the county of Allegany; one

   16  percent  for  the  counties  of  Rensselaer, Erie, Cattaraugus, Wyoming,

   17  Ulster, Albany, Suffolk, Greene, Orleans, Franklin,  Herkimer,  Genesee,

   18  Columbia,  Schuyler, Chenango, Monroe, Steuben, Chemung, Seneca, Living-

   19  ston, Niagara, Yates, Tioga,  Montgomery,  Delaware,  Wayne,  Schoharie,

   20  Putnam,  Clinton,  ST.  LAWRENCE and Onondaga and the cities of Yonkers,

   21  Mount Vernon and New Rochelle; three-quarters of  one  percent  for  the

   22  counties  of  Dutchess, Essex, Lewis, Orange, and Jefferson; one percent

   23  and three-quarters of one percent or one-half of  one  percent  for  the

   24  county  of  Oneida;  three-quarters  of  one percent and one-half of one

        EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets

                             [ ] is old law to be omitted.

                                                                  LBD08819-01-3

       A. 4761                             2

    1  percent for the county of Nassau; one-half of one percent and  one-quar-

    2  ter  of one percent and one-quarter of one percent for the city of White

    3  Plains; one-half or one percent  for  the  county  of  Tompkins;  three-

    4  eighths of one percent and five-eighths of one percent for the county of

    5  Rockland;  one-half  of one percent for the counties of Putnam and Sche-

    6  nectady; one-eighth of one percent and three-eighths of one percent  for

    7  the  county of Ontario; one-half of one percent; one-half of one percent

    8  for the county of Sullivan; and three-quarters of one  percent  or  one-

    9  half of one percent for the county of Chautauqua;

   10    S  3.  Subdivision  (a)  of section 1223 of the tax law, as amended by

   11  chapter 74 of the laws of 2010, is amended to read as follows:

   12    (a) No transaction taxable under sections twelve hundred  two  through

   13  twelve  hundred  four  of  this  article shall be taxed pursuant to this

   14  article by any county or by any city located therein, or by both, at  an

   15  aggregate rate in excess of the highest rate set forth in the applicable

   16  subdivision  of  section  twelve  hundred one of this article or, in the

   17  case of any taxes imposed pursuant to the authority  of  section  twelve

   18  hundred  ten  or twelve hundred eleven of this article (other than taxes

   19  imposed by the county of Nassau, Erie,  Steuben,  Cattaraugus,  Suffolk,

   20  Oneida,  Genesee,  Greene, Franklin, Herkimer, Tioga, Orleans, Allegany,

   21  Ulster, Albany, Rensselaer, Tompkins, Wyoming, Columbia, Schuyler, Rock-

   22  land, Chenango, Monroe, Chemung, Seneca,  Sullivan,  Wayne,  Livingston,

   23  Schenectady,  Montgomery,  Delaware,  Clinton,  Niagara,  Yates,  Lewis,

   24  Essex, Dutchess, Schoharie, Putnam, Chautauqua, Orange, Oswego, Ontario,

   25  Jefferson, ST. LAWRENCE or Onondaga and by the county  of  Cortland  and

   26  the  city  of Cortland and by the county of Broome and the city of Bing-

   27  hamton and by the county of Cayuga and the city of  Auburn  and  by  the

   28  county  of  Otsego  and the city of Oneonta and by the county of Madison

   29  and the city of Oneida and by the county  of  Fulton  and  the  city  of

   30  Gloversville  or  the  city  of  Johnstown as provided in section twelve

   31  hundred ten of this article) at a  rate  in  excess  of  three  percent,

   32  except that, in the city of Yonkers, in the city of Mount Vernon, in the

   33  city  of  New Rochelle, in the city of Fulton and in the city of Oswego,

   34  the rate may not be in excess of four percent and in the city  of  White

   35  Plains, the rate may not be in excess of four percent and except that in

   36  the city of Poughkeepsie in the county of Dutchess, if such county with-

   37  draws from the metropolitan commuter transportation district pursuant to

   38  section  twelve hundred seventy-nine-b of the public authorities law and

   39  if the revenues from a three-eighths percent rate of such tax imposed by

   40  such county, pursuant to the authority of section twelve hundred ten  of

   41  this  article,  are required by local laws, ordinances or resolutions to

   42  be set aside for mass transportation purposes, the rate may  not  be  in

   43  excess of three and three-eighths percent.

   44    S  4.  Section 1224 of the tax law is amended by adding a new subdivi-

   45  sion (ii) to read as follows:

   46    (II) THE COUNTY OF ST. LAWRENCE SHALL HAVE THE SOLE  RIGHT  TO  IMPOSE

   47  THE  ADDITIONAL  ONE PERCENT RATE OF TAX WHICH SUCH COUNTY IS AUTHORIZED

   48  TO IMPOSE PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY OF SECTION  TWELVE  HUNDRED  TEN  OF

   49  THIS  ARTICLE.  SUCH  ADDITIONAL RATE OF TAX SHALL BE IN ADDITION TO ANY

   50  OTHER TAX WHICH SUCH COUNTY MAY IMPOSE OR MAY BE  IMPOSING  PURSUANT  TO

   51  THIS  ARTICLE OR ANY OTHER LAW AND SUCH ADDITIONAL RATE OF TAX SHALL NOT

   52  BE SUBJECT TO PREEMPTION. THE MAXIMUM THREE PERCENT RATE REFERRED TO  IN

   53  THIS SECTION SHALL BE CALCULATED WITHOUT REFERENCE TO THE ADDITIONAL ONE

   54  PERCENT  RATE  OF TAX WHICH THE COUNTY OF ST. LAWRENCE IS AUTHORIZED AND

   55  EMPOWERED TO ADOPT PURSUANT TO SECTION TWELVE HUNDRED TEN OF THIS  ARTI-

   56  CLE.

       A. 4761                             3

    1    S  5.  Notwithstanding  any other provision of law to the contrary, if

    2  the county of St. Lawrence enacts or amends a local  law,  ordinance  or

    3  resolution  to impose, effective on December 1, 2013, the additional one

    4  percent additional rate of sales and compensating use  taxes  authorized

    5  by  this  act, such local law, ordinance or resolution shall take effect

    6  in accordance with the provisions of subdivision (d) of section 1210  of

    7  the  tax law, except that the minimum notice requirements to the commis-

    8  sioner of taxation and finance shall be deemed  complied  with  if  such

    9  county  mails  by certified or registered mail, a certified copy of such

   10  local law, ordinance or resolution to such commissioner at  his  or  her

   11  office in Albany on or before November 1, 2013.

   12    S 6. This act shall take effect immediately.

Assemblywoman Russell votes to increase State aid to education by $834 million

School Aid Formula Reform will provide more funding for poorer districts

Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell (D-Theresa) announced that the recently passed 2013-14 Assembly budget proposal includes an $834 million increase in school aid above last year (E.182). The Assembly’s proposal for education funding is $334 million more than the executive budget proposal.

The Assembly budget proposal includes various formula calculations to reflect changes in foundation aid and Gap elimination adjustment restoration.  This includes the elimination of the Income Wealth Index minimum (floor) in the Foundation Aid Formula.

“Including the elimination of the minimum income wealth floor in foundation aid is something I have been fighting for in my school funding equality act” Assemblywoman Russell said. “This provision will increase state aid to poorer school districts, helping to ensure that students continue to receive valuable educational opportunities without overburdening our families through increased property taxes.”

The Assembly’s budget proposal:

• Eliminates the provision of the Income Wealth Index minimum (floor) in the Foundation Aid Formula;
• continues its phase-in of Foundation Aid and increases it by $208 million;

• preserves the full $25 million pre-K grant and modifies the grant to authorize new half-day or full-day slots;
• restores $10.22 million to teacher resource and computer training centers;
• provides a $4 million increase to non-public schools, including the Comprehensive Attendance Policy program;

• provides an increase of $1.5 million to the administration of the high school equivalency diploma exam;
• increases adult literacy education by $1 million;
• provides $1 million for educational services for Deferred Action for

“North Country children deserve a quality education,” Assemblywoman Russell said. “This increased education aid will help schools maintain the programs needed to prepare our children for the future and help hold the line on local property taxes.”

The Assembly proposal will also strengthen our higher education system by increasing community college base aid for the second consecutive year. This year’s budget will increase aid by $150 per Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) student at SUNY community colleges.

“Every North Country resident deserves the chance to earn a college degree and obtain the skills to advance in today’s job market, Assemblywoman Russell said. “This increase to community college base aid will make attending college more affordable, giving more opportunities to our children and families.”

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Statement From Assemblywoman Addie Russell Regarding the Assembly's Passage of the Minimum Wage Bill

"Today the Assembly voted to raise the minimum wage to $9.00 per hour beginning in January 2014 (A.38-A).  This is an important step toward ensuring that workers receive a living wage so they can provide for their families. The bill also indexes the wage to inflation beginning in 2015.  

"This is a matter of fairness and sound economic policy. The current minimum wage is failing to keep up with increasing costs of living. Whether it is buying gas or groceries, paying for medical services or heating costs, minimum wage workers cannot make ends meet.  With this increase, workers will see a rise in their purchasing power which will provide an economic boost for the North Country. Every $1 increase for minimum wage workers results in $3,500 in new consumer spending over the course of a year. That is what businesses need – consumers to spend more dollars locally.  

"Quite simply, the status quo has stunted the economic recovery in our region.  With no real wage increase for the last six years, the working poor cannot keep up with inflationary price increases and local businesses are feeling the effect of a lack of sales revenue. Raising the minimum wage will spur the re-circulation of money throughout the entire economy, helping to sustain businesses into the future."

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