Assemblymember John Salka concerned about education & infrastructure as budget cuts loom By Luke Perry
The schedule of the New York State Assembly is uncertain. Assemblymember John Salka (R, District 121) said “we’re getting somewhat mixed signals on exactly what we’re going to do to be able to conduct people’s business.” Salka told Talk of the Town (WUTQ in Utica) the legislature will “probably go back into session, but it will probably be in virtual means.”
Being a presidential year, “voting is major issue” Salka said. Salka believes it is “debatable” whether or not voting by mail is a good idea, referencing the “possibility of fraud,” while stating “you still want people to have ballot access.” No excuse absentee ballots were passed last year, which Salka thinks “took care of most of the issues that have to do with ballot access.”
Decreased revenues will undoubtedly impact the budget. “There are going to have be cuts,” said Salka, who has recently been in close communication with businesses and school superintendents throughout the district. “The cuts in education got all my school superintendents very, very concerned.”
Federal assistance offset this, but Foundation Aid was frozen at last year’s levels, and future cuts are possible. The governor was also empowered to periodically reevaluate the budget in light of revenues and cut up to $15 million.
Passing school budgets will be difficult in light of this fiscal uncertainty. The state postponed all local elections until at least June 1st for health reasons.
Photo from Assemblyman Salka’s Office
Infrastructure is a major issue. “A lot of the rural areas in my district have terrible internet service,” Salka said, complicating virtual education by schools. Schools have been “incredibly creative” in addressing these problems, including creating “hot spots” where students can have internet access.
Salka opposes all tax increases during this time. “To administer a tax increase right now would just be unacceptable,” Salka said. “People are going to have to accept that their school might not be able to offer certain programs, for now, in order to be able to give them a break on their property taxes or school taxes.”
Highway funding is another concern. Salka said CHIPS is “very important highway funding for a lot of our communities.” CHIPS allocates state money to municipalities for the construction and repair of highways, bridges, railroad crossings, and other facilities. “We’re not exactly sure how that’s going to be paid out,” Salka explained, “and that’s millions and millions of dollars and thousands and thousands of jobs.”
Salka said the majority of calls and emails he gets are about unemployment insurance. “People have told me they have sat on the phone and done the auto-dial a thousand or two thousand times.” Salka believes the state “is really trying their best,” increasing employees and working on this seven days a weeks. There is “huge stress on the system” due to high demand, but “people are starting to get their checks.”
Luke Perry (@PolSciLukePerry) is Professor of Government at Utica College
