Budget reform passes state Assembly

Assemblymember Susan John (D-Rochester/ Chili/Wheatland/Rush/Riga) has reported that the Assembly passed legislation that would greatly improve the efficiency of the state's budget pro-cess. The reforms require a constitutional amendment, and as such must be approved by the Legislature two years in a row before being turned over to the people for final say in November 2005. A second bill must be passed by the Legislature to put the plan into effect.

"The state's budget-crafting system - designed 70 years ago to deal with different challenges in a different New York - had become chaotic and inefficient," John said. "Our historic plan will bring transparency, accountability and efficiency to the process, and above all, will help ensure on-time budgets in the years to come."

The plan includes moving the start of the New York's fiscal year from April 1 to May 1 to allow for better rev-enue and spending projections and instituting provisions to instill greater acceptability in the process.

John also said the reform will benefit schools. "The Assembly and Senate's agreement on budget reform would require a two-year appropriation for education aid," John said. "This will help schools stay a step ahead by finally giving them the information they need, when they need it."

The reforms will also create a reserve fund in the state constitution to ensure sufficient funds exist for the payment of education aid in May and June of each year.