I am delighted to announce that our advocacy in Albany has paid off.  The State budget will:

• Restore $28 million to stop the proposed one percent across-the-board cut to not-for-profit human service agencies and will maintain the COLA agreement in future years.
• Dismantle the proposed youth services block grant and much of the related cuts.
• Restore the homeless service prevention program, SRO funding, and funds for the homeless intervention program.
• Restore $29 million in child welfare funding for the Community Optional Preventive (COPS) program.
• Restore $6.4 million to Advantage After-School and add another $5 million to the program.
  
• Balance the budget fairly by raising personal income taxes (for a three year period) on New York’s top earners.  Those earning $300,000 - $500,000 annually will be taxed at a rate of 7.85% and the rate for those earning above $500,000 will be 8.97%.  This will create $4 billion in revenue.
  
  

Since the Governor released his Executive budget in December, HSC has been diligently advocating in Albany for critical restorations, increases to the personal income tax, and policy reforms to reduce State spending.  Click here for more information about some of these major victories.

HSC could not have done this without the support of those who helped us by sending letters, making calls, holding district meetings, and joining us in Albany to voice their concerns.  We also want to thank our State consultants, Dames Reid, LLC, for their role in making these restorations happen and members of the One New York coalition for acting as a loud voice in the fight for a balanced approach.

Finally, we could not have done this without the support of our HSC Board and Executive Committee, our funders, our staff, and our dedicated members.  Many thanks to all of you for your support. 

Michael Stoller

March 30, 2009