Outreach & Engagement

Legislative Update

2005

• September 27, 2005
• September 14, 2005
• June 24, 2005
• April 13, 2005
• April 12, 2005
• March 31, 2005
• March 29, 2005
• March 25, 2005
• March 23, 2005
• March 18, 2005
• March 17, 2005
• March 8, 2005

April 13, 2005, 9:05am

Congratulations!  The state has a completed on-time budget passing the final amendments shortly before midnight last night.  There were no gubernatorial vetoes to the budget relative to higher education, and as a result the State University is well positioned as we enter the 2005-06 state fiscal and academic calendar years.  I thank all of you for your concerted and coordinated efforts in our state budget advocacy over the past few months.  I believe that having the State University campuses speak with one united message over the past couple of budget cycles has raised the awareness of the State University and the need to invest in its future.

State Operated Campuses:

• $84.3 million restoration in state support
• No tuition increase
• No rational tuition policy although Senator LaValle has pledged to continue discussions through the remainder of the legislative session
• Re-appropriation of the Hold Harmless which apportions $16.7 million for FY2005-06, with another $10 million available if the University is able to identify a like amount of revenue for the State financial plan.
• Child Care TANF funding continued at $1.08 million
• SUNY Hospital subsidy increases by $36.8 million, from $92.6 million to $129.4 million

University-wide Programs:

• Educational Opportunity Programs restored to $16.4 million (full restoration to 2004-05 pre-veto level
• Full TAP restoration with no reforms
• EOC/Bridge Program - TANF funding continued at $9.553 million
• EOC/Technology Learning Program - TANF funding continued at $8.5 million
• PACT was rejected

Community Colleges:

• Base Aid increased by $115 FTE bringing the annual funding to $2,350 per FTE
• Acknowledgement of enrollment growth
• Rental Aid increased by $3.75 million, providing 50% rental aid funding
• Contract Course aid continued at $1 million
• Child Care funding continued at $1.065 million
• Child Care TANF funding continued at $880,000

Capital projects (see attached project lists compiled by the State University Construction Fund)

• Educational Facilities - $630.175 million
• Hospital Facilities - $69 million
• Community Colleges – $85.270 million
• Capital Matching Program for private colleges only at $150 million. The public colleges (SUNY and CUNY) were excluded from the matching program. However, all $784 million in capital projects added by the Legislature were approved and not vetoed.
• Re-Appropriation of all previously approved, unfinished projects dating back to the 1998 Capital Plan

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