Budget Bumps in the Road
Spring is in the air in Albany, but state legislators and staff have the small matter of the 2016-17 state budget to finalize before getting out and enjoying the outdoors.
The legislature's budget process involves an Executive Proposal, and then one-house budgets in both the Assembly and Senate. These then must be reconciled before final budget passage.
Boost for the EPF
Perhaps the biggest out and out win for outdoor lovers is the presence in all three budgets of full funding for the Environmental Protection Fund, at $300 million.
Another great piece of news, and an area of agreement between the two houses, is a second year of funding for the Park and Trail Partnership Program, included as part of the EPF. This is a capacity-building grants for grassroots Friends groups administered by PTNY in partnership with NY State Parks. We are also appreciative of restored funding provided for open space protection. Funding for these programs will continue to complement the Parks 2020 initiative and exciting revitalization of the state park system.
Mixed bag for State Park System
We are disappointed that the Senate failed to include the next fiscal year’s $90 million installment of funding for the state park’s capital program proposed by the governor and included in the Assembly’s budget. This funding is critical to keep the forward momentum going for our parks.
The Assembly’s budget proposal reduces state land stewardship funding by $9.5 million, in this case advanced by the governor and included in the Senate’s budget. This important EPF category is critical to improve access to the state’s public lands, provide environmental stewardship education to the next generation, and protect vulnerable natural resources.
We are hopeful that these state park investments are restored in the next phase of final budget negotiations. Read our press statement on the Assembly and Senate budget proposals for parks.
A breakthrough for biking and walking
In the Assembly, biking and walking advocates made a breakthrough. $20 million in dedicated funding for biking and walking infrastructure is included in the Assembly's budget, marking an important first for the state. Since passage of the Complete Streets law in 2011, achieving dedicated state funding, beyond the current federal pass-through dollars for sidewalks, bike lanes, and multi-use trails, has been a goal of PTNY and other members of the New Yorkers for Active Transportation Coalition (NY4AT). Language in the Assembly bill specifies that the $20 million should be set aside from the overall $22.1 billion NYS Department of Transportation capital plan. The inclusion of this funding owes much to Assemblymember Patricia Fahy, who sponsored a letter endorsed by 42 other Assembly members pushing for inclusion of the funding.
PTNY and its NY4AT partners will now turn their attention to the Senate, where dedicated funding was not included in the one-house budget. This omission comes despite efforts by Senators Richard Funke, John Bonacic, and Terrence Murphy, who championed the idea in conference.