Cuomo Releases Executive Budget

In his recent State of the State address, Gov. Andrew Cuomo outlined a number of new plans for New York, including a possible new convention center in Queens.

This week, he put his money where his mouth is — literally — releasing the 2012-13 Executive Budget.

“Through fiscal discipline and working in partnership with the private sector, we are making New York a pro-growth State once again. This budget represents the next step in our plan to transform New York State,” Cuomo said.

The spending plan has produced mostly positive reactions, especially from Queens elected officials who are in favor of the convention center.

“[Governor Cuomo’s] vision for a new New York is clear and focused and will help save New York City millions of dollars in the near future,” said Borough President Helen Marshall. “I also applaud the Governor’s blueprint to create jobs, using public-private partnerships to leverage billions of dollars in economic growth is a prescription for success.”

The budget also includes a toll discount program for residents of the Rockaways and Broad Channel, which was praised by Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder.

Forest Hills state Sen. Joe Addabbo said he was ultimately pleased with the progress that the governor staked out in his budget.

“While our state may not have found its way out of the woods yet when it comes to its fiscal problems, I believe Governor Cuomo has delivered a credible way of how to find its way there,” Addabbo said. “The Executive Budget is the starting point for debates and discussions on how to address the fiscal demands of the state and simultaneously protect the essential services it provides for the people.”

Addabbo also said he plans to pay particular attention to Title XX funding for senior centers — which is not currently under threat in the budget — and local school spending during budget negotiations.

The portion of the budget most likely to impact Forest Hills, of course, is the Governor’s new initiatives in education. Cuomo spent a great deal of time this year talking about the importance of improving teacher evaluations to make them more reflective of real-world issues.

Just how much change occurs remains to be seen.