The Mayor & Superintendent Respond to Governor's Budget
Executive Budget Marks Good Starting Point, but There's "Room for Improvement"

(January 31, 2007) The following is an official statement issued jointly by Yonkers Mayor Phil Amicone and Yonkers School Superintendent Bernard P. Pierorazio regarding the 2007- 08 Executive Budget released today by Governor Eliot Spitzer.

“At first glance, we feel the executive budget marks a good starting point in this year’s state budget process, but there is clearly room for improvement.

“Yonkers is beginning this negotiation with a $21.5 million dollar increase in state funding to our combined municipal and education budgets, which represents an approximate 7% increase over last year’s aid package. That’s more than some, but less than most. To that end, our financial team has identified a number of areas that we feel should be increased as the legislature begins its work.

“We are encouraged by many of Governor Spitzer’s recent statements tying increases in aid, particularly education funding, to improvements in accountability standards on the local level. Considering the tremendous progress we’ve made over the last few years, we strongly believe that tougher accountability standards work in our favor, not against us. On this issue, the governor has our full support.

“It’s obvious that we have made a convincing argument that Yonkers is on the right path—one that warrants the continued investment of state funding in our city’s future. We view this as the beginning of the process— not the end, and look forward to continuing to make our case for greater funding increases to members of the legislature over the coming weeks.”