State Budget Update and More

April 25, 2023

I’m sure you have seen the headlines indicating a state budget deal is near.  It appears that some important agreements have come together over the past 2-3 days that would indicate we are close.  Last night we sent you an article discussing a tentative budget deal on a minimum wade deal that would begin with small increases topping out at $17/hour.  The wage would grow from $15 an hour to $17 in the New York City area by 2026, growing 50 cents a year starting in 2024. North of Westchester County, would increase from $14.20 to $17 an hour by 2028.  New York City would top out first.  Future increases would be tied to inflation.  There’s the potential to provide more funding for the state’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program, including a bail out for the New York City Housing Authority, which carries about $450 million in arrears. We’ve also seen information about a Charter Schools deal, an MTA deal (linked to casino revenues), and we’ve read that tuition increases for in-state SUNY and CUNY students have been kicked out of the budget (along with the Governor’s housing plan).  Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins spoke recently about the budget being weighed down by policy issues/initiatives.  Many lawmakers believe that the state budget should not be embedded with policy proposals that often slow down the sausage making process as political lines get drawn.

No news regarding the COLA as of today although we know that 3 way negotiations are now at a level of detail where final decisions are being hammered out.  Please use the information at this link to make a final push for the 8.5% COLA for the mental health and substance use disorder workforce:https://mhanys.org/contact-legislator/
And, here is some good news from Gothamist regarding a small program in NYC that is rapidly moving homeless New Yorkers into vacant apartments: https://gothamist.com/news/dozens-of-homeless-new-yorkers-are-moving-into-vacant-apartments-thanks-to-a-new-program

Also, we want to remind you of the following upcoming events:

There are two Children’s Stakeholder Regional Meetings this week:

The first meeting in the Western region will take place on Thursday, April 27th from 1:30 – 3:30.  Please see info below for in-person and remote participants.

IF YOU ARE PARTICIPATING REMOTELY PLEASE USE THE LINK BELOW:

https://link.zixcentral.com/u/c5414b81/hBrmojjE7RGzwwQgh3soMg?u=https%3A%2F%2Fattendee.gotowebinar.com%2Fregister%2F8089159152371427159

IF YOU ARE PARTICIPATING IN-PERSON:

Address:

1845 Kenmore Ave

Buffalo, NY

Parking Info:

Parking is available on site. If the lot is full, off street parking is available on side streets surrounding the site.

Any questions should be sent to BH.Transition@health.ny.gov.—————

On Friday,April 28, a Children’s Stakeholder Regional Meeting for stakeholders in the Finger Lakes region will be held from 1:00 – 3:00.  Please see info below for in-person and remote participants.

IF YOU ARE PARTICIPATING REMOTELY PLEASE USE THE LINK BELOW:

Click on the link below which will take you directly to the virtual meeting:

https://hillside.webex.com/hillside/j.php?MTID=m11519fbff2fe66802c446350d9348836

To participate by Telephone Only, call 1-408-792-6300 and Enter the Meeting ID 2632 754 0161

IF YOU ARE PARTICIPATING IN-PERSON:

Address:

Hillside Children’s Center

1250 Highland Avenue

Rochester, NY 14620

**The meeting will be in Eastman Hall on the Monroe Campus of Hillside Children’s Center. Eastman Hall is the only building on campus that is white (the remainder are brick) and looks like a small church.

Parking Info:

When entering Highland Ave travel all the way up the hill where you will come upon a large parking lot. Grounds staff will be on-site assisting with and directing parking.

Any questions should be sent to BH.Transition@health.ny.gov.