Senate Democrats Reject Measure To Fund SUNY Construction Projects, Money Is Going Out For CUNY While SUNY Funds Are Frozen
May 4, 2010
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(Long Island, N.Y.)-Senate Democrats today voted down a measure proposed by Republicans to authorize the release of funds for SUNY capital construction projects that could be stopped this week, threatening thousands of jobs and hundreds of economic development projects.
“While money is going out the door to fund capital construction projects at CUNY schools in New York City, construction funds for SUNY projects Upstate and on Long Island are in serious jeopardy because they are not included in the budget extender legislation submitted by the Governor,” Senate Republican Leader Dean Skelos said. “We are talking about saving hundreds of SUNY projects and thousands of jobs that are critically important to the Upstate economy.”
Senate Republicans offered the amendment to the budget extender legislation that was acted on today. Every Senate Democrat voted against authorizing the funding for SUNY capital construction projects.
“It is not equitable that CUNY funds are going forward while money for SUNY projects is held up,” Senator Kenneth P. LaValle (R-C-I, Port Jefferson), ranking Republican on the Higher Education Committee said. “It’s disappointing that Senate Democrats who have SUNY schools in their districts and who have allowed the CUNY funds to be spent, did not join us to give equal treatment to SUNY so projects in their districts wouldn’t be held up.”
Similarly to the situation that has held up state funds for road and highway construction projects, the funds for SUNY capital construction already exist, but using the funds to pay for construction work requires state authorization. Governor Paterson did not include the authorization for SUNY project funding in his latest budget extender bill.
Payment for SUNY capital construction projects comes from bond proceeds that already exist and only need authorization to be appropriated. This does not represent any new spending.
Posted by News LI Editor · Filed Under Business
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