islature) to incur debt to fund appropriations (NY budget facesà 2002).
These general comments serve to establish the background in which this report is positioned. It is the purpose of this report to provide an analysis of the New York State budget process and to explore the intersection between the State budgetary process and the financing of local governmental actions and initiatives in New York State. The report will then focus on the budgetary process itself, concluding with a forecast of the future outlook for the New York State budget process.
The State of New York provides its 1,610 municipalities with a broad range of direct and indirect financial assistance for such purposes as school aid, School Tax Relief (STAR), health care and social services (including Medicaid), law enforcement, transportation and unrestricted aid (Local government assistance, 2003). Since 1995, local governments and school districts have received some $7.3 billion in savings and increased State aid. This financial suppor
...