Update on the Enacted Budget & Post-Budget Review

Legislative Team Update on the Enacted Budget & Post-Budget Review

By Ryan Gregoire, NYSAC Legislative Director

This year’s state budget was enacted in a time of historic abundance in Albany. The state had received significant inflows of aid from the federal government and personal income tax receipts – the largest revenue source for the state were 18.7 percent higher than last year's enacted state budget.

Medicaid and education spending continue to be the two largest spending categories in New York. This year was no exception to that rule. In fact, Medicaid spending increased by 13.6 percent year-over-year. This program, which now totals $27.7 billion, continues to grow at an unprecedented rate—an alarming trend that we all must be cognizant of.

The most significant victories for counties in the SFY 2023 State Budget can be found in the continuation of the cap on the local share of Medicaid, extension of local home rule revenue authority and our successful campaign to Keep Local Taxes Local by eliminating the diversion of sales tax to pay for the distressed hospital fund and the AIM-related payments program.

Counties also saw an increase to the Community College funding floor to 100 percent of prior year funding, up from the 98 percent floor enacted in FY 2022, an expansion of broadband services and repeal of the DOT Right-of-Way Tax, and increase in Article 6 public health funding, authorization for fire departments to bill Medicaid for EMS Services, and increased funding for local Veterans’ Service Agencies and expansion of the Joseph P. Dwyer Peer-to-Peer Veterans’ Support Program statewide.

For complete analysis of the county impact of the SFY 2023 State budget, visit www.nysac.org/nysbudget.

The post-budget legislative session consisted of 21 legislative session days, 6 days less than last year, due primarily to the fact that this year is an election year for all 213 members of the State Legislature.

Like the previous two years, the State Legislature convened in a hybrid format. Initially, the public was barred access from the Capitol and Legislative Office Building; however, the buildings did re-open in March, and the post-budget period, ushering in return to semi-normal advocacy efforts.

NYSAC’s advocacy work is guided by the policy resolutions which are adopted by the NYSAC standing committees twice per year, during the Legislative Conference and again at the Fall Seminar.

To help communicate these priorities to legislators, staff and other key stakeholders, the NYSAC legislative team developed a brand new 2022 Legislative Program which was met with much appreciation and support from state lawmakers and county officials, and a 2022 Post-Budget Legislative Program, building off of the new design created earlier this year. Both of these documents can be viewed at www.nysac.org/advocacy.

We further narrowed our focus to a few top post-budget priorities as the legislative session neared conclusion in early June, including:

• Reform of Pre-Trial Competency Restoration,

• Permanency of County Sales Tax,

• Shared Services Reform, and

Of these top priorities, NYSAC was able to secure passage of County-wide Shared Services Reform legislation (S.8887-A / A.10337-A), to make shared services proposals from previous plans eligible for state matching funds. We will continue to aggressively advocate for the remainder of these priorities in next year’s session.

In addition to our top priorities, a number of pieces of legislation sought by counties were passed by both Houses of the Legislature, including:

• Financial Responsibility for Human Postexposure

Rabies Treatment legislation (A.7408-A / S.7501), to require insurers to accept authorization by a county health authority as satisfying any pre-approval requirements for postexposure rabies treatment coverage,

• Carpet Stewardship legislation (A.9279-A / S.5027-C), to require carpet producers to establish carpet collection programs, assume the responsibility and cost for collection and recycling, and prohibit the use of PFAS in carpeting, and

• Valuation of Condominiums for Real Property

Taxation Purposes legislation (A.3491-B / S.5946-B), to allow municipalities to voluntarily opt-in to value newly constructed and converted cooperative and condominium units as they would other real property to alleviate any negative impacts placed on the locality by the current statute.

In addition to these bills, NYSAC tracked, monitored, and engaged on over 2,000 pieces of legislation. In total, the Legislature introduced more than 19,000 bills (not including amendments) during this legislative cycle. This is more bills than any other state in the country. Of these bills, the Legislature passed 1,007 through both Houses, a modern-day record and slightly more than the 984 in 2021.

For a deep dive into all legislation with county impact that passed through both chambers, download our 2022 New York State Legislative Session Summary at www.nysac.org/ legadvocacy.

Of course, the NYSAC legislative team will continue to monitor legislation and inform members on pending legislation impacting counties. On behalf of the NYSAC legislative team, we are so grateful for your continued advocacy at the local level and here in Albany, both virtually, and in-person!

Learn more about all of our advocacy resources by visiting https://www.nysac.org/advocacy.

Learn more about NYSAC Standing Committees

County Conversations Podcast Tackles Timely and Pressing Issues Impacting Counties

Also available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and Spotify

Visit nysac.org/podcast to tune into NYSAC's weekly podcast series.

Each episode features discussions with leaders from across the state that are focused on providing innovative solutions to local issues.

Episodes range from 20 minutes long to up to an hour long. You can listen in any order you would like, any time you like.

If there are any topics concerning county government that you would like to hear us discuss – or join as a guest to discuss – please email our Multimedia Specialist Kate Pierce (kpierce@nysac. org) to turn your idea into soundwaves.