Policy and Advocacy Update

$132.6m Budget State FY 2012-2013 Budget

State spending to increase by 2%

The budget process has snuck by quietly in Albany this year as lawmakers did much of the work to prepare through a special session in December 2011, as well as through an all night session earlier this month that resolved major issues including redistricting.  Agreement on a final deal was reached, the bills were printed and legislators are now voting to approve each of the pieces.  With today’s March 30^th passage, New York  will have its first early budget in nearly three decades.

In the final 2012-2013 State Budget, General Fund and TANF support for local district subsidies increased by $2 million over the Executive Budget to total $532.3 million.  Changes were made in Pre-K language to protect teacher certification and eliminate some Maintenance of Effort restrictions.

While the three way compromise did not bring any new funding for QUALITYstarsNY, we have made progress on the issue and will use this momentum to continue to educate policymakers on the importance of access to high-quality early care and education at every opportunity. Stay tuned, this will shape our agenda going forward as we shift to an advocacy campaign focused solely on the implementation of QUALITYstarsNY.

Final 2012-2013 Budget

§  Child Care Resource and Referral funding is maintained at $22,034,000.

§  Universal Prekindergarten  (UPK) program is also maintained at the FY 2011-12 level-$384,000,000.

§  Child Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) also received the same funding as FY 2011-12 -$247,694,000.

§  The legislature added $544,000 to CUNY child care centers and $653,000 to SUNY child care centers.

§  Overall, the 2012-13 budget provides approximately $20.4 billion for school aid, an increase of about $805 million from the current spending plan.

Thank you for all of your advocacy efforts during this budget season and please be ready to take action as we move on in the legislative session.  We will continue to keep you informed and please do not hesitate to express your questions and concerns. 

Sincerely,

Jessica

Jessica Klos Shapiro

jklos@earlycareandlearning.org

Policy Associate

(518) 690-4217 ex. 32