RELEASE
by CNY Citizens In Action

The Fiscal Policy Institute, Central New York Citizens in Action, Inc., Central New York Labor Council, and other community groups will hold their annual New York State Budget Community Forum at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 4 at the Cornerstone Community Church, 500 Plant St., Oneida Square, Utica.  The group will issue its annual budget analysis at the forum which will highlight the impact of the proposed budget on New York State and our local region. The forum will discuss income inequality, austerity budget, public school and human services funding, the Governor’s 2015-2016 budget, and an alternative opportunity agenda.

Refreshments will be served.  Residents will be provided an opportunity to speak out on the budget and learn how they can participate in advocacy efforts to influence the budget process.  For more information, call 315-725-0974 or email cnycitizenaction@gmail.com.

The  forum will examine various aspects of the governor’s Executive Budget including such topics as:

• Income Inequality in New York State: How does our current tax system exacerbate the problem? The forum will provide the most recent research and analysis on the issue.
• Austerity Budgeting/Financial Plan: What are the impacts of continued austerity spending resulting from the governor’s self-imposed 2 percent state spending cap?  Is it necessary to continue this austerity spending which will result in billions in unspecified cuts in out years when incomes and tax receipts are growing 4-6 percent per year?
• 2015-16 Executive Budget: What are the major policy issues that the governor addresses in the Executive Budget? Are there any glaring omissions in the issues being addressed? What is the overall impact of the governor’s proposed budget on the ability of the state to meet its major social and economic challenges and opportunities such as the exceptionally high child poverty rates in the major Upstate cities? We provide our analysis of the governor’s proposals on taxes, education, human services, economic development, bank settlement funds, local government and minimum wage.
• Shared Opportunity Agenda for New York: Progressive public policies will be outlined that can be adopted to ensure that we create more “shared opportunities” to help lift New Yorkers out of poverty and provide avenues for upward mobility.

The speaker for the forum will be Ronald Deutsch, Executive Director of the Fiscal Policy Institute.

The Fiscal Policy Institute (FPI) is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit research and education organization committed to improving public policies and private practices to better the economic and social conditions of all New Yorkers.  The Central New York Citizens in Action, Inc. is a multi-issue community advocacy organization.

For more information on FPI and its work, and for copies of all of FPI’s publications, visit www.fiscalpolicy.org.  Information on the Central New York Citizens in Action is available at http://cnycitizenaction.wordpress.com

CONTACT:

John Furman (315) 725-0974

Ronald Deutsch (518) 469-6769