Regional Initiatives – Southern Tier

The Enacted Budget provides $829.4 million in school aid for the Southern Tier region, a substantial increase of $77.0 million (10.2 percent). The City of Binghamton School District will receive $53.8 million in school aid, an increase of $6.0 million (12.6 percent). The City of Elmira School District will receive $83.7 million in school aid, an increase of $13.4 million (19.1 percent).

Aid and Incentives to Municipalities (AIM) revenue sharing funding will total $22.9 million for the Southern Tier, an increase of $1.7 million (8.4 percent). In the City of Binghamton, AIM funding will total $9.8 million, an increase of $960,987 (10.8 percent), and in the City of Elmira, it will total $4.8 million, an increase of $398,033 (9.0 percent).

To finance important infrastructure initiatives, Consolidated Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS) funding of $2.15 million is provided for Broome County, an increase of $254,472 or (13.5 percent), and $1.39 million for Chemung County, an increase of $173,316 (14.3 percent).

Additionally, the continued capping of local Medicaid costs and the state takeover of the Family Health Plus program will provide significant savings for local taxpayers in Broome County ($9.5 million) and Chemung ($2.2 million) in 2008-09.

A summary of budget actions affecting the Southern Tier is included below.

SELECTED HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE SOUTHERN TIER – 2008-09 ENACTED BUDGET

Southern Tier Region

• School Aid: Total NYS School Aid to Southern Tier Region school districts will increase from $752.4 million in 2007-08 to $829.4 million in 2008-09, an increase of $77.0 million or 10.2%.
• STAR Property Tax Relief: Total STAR property tax relief to Southern Tier Region residents will increase from $156.7 million in 2007-08 to $165.7 million in 2008-09, an increase of $9.0 or 5.7%.
• Aid and Incentives to Municipalities (AIM): Total AIM funding for the Southern Tier Region residents will increase from $21.1 million in 2007-08 to $22.9 million in 2008-09, an increase of $1.7 million or 8.4%.

Delaware County

• Medicaid Cap/FHP Takeover: Projected savings for Delaware County for the Medicaid Cap and State takeover of Family Health Plus will total $1.1 million in 2008-09.
• Consolidated Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS): Total CHIPS funding for Delaware County will increase from $1.65 million in 2007-08 to $1.84 million in 2008-09, an increase of $190,255 or 11.5%.

Broome County

• Medicaid Cap/FHP Takeover: Projected savings for Broome County for the Medicaid Cap and State takeover of Family Health Plus will total $9.5 million in 2008-09.
• Consolidated Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS): Total CHIPS funding for Broome County will increase from $1.89 million in 2007-08 to $2.15 million in 2008-09, an increase of $254,472 or 13.5%.

Chemung County

• Medicaid Cap/FHP Takeover: Projected savings for Chemung County for the Medicaid Cap and State takeover of Family Health Plus will total $2.2 million in 2008-09.
• Consolidated Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS): Total CHIPS funding for Chemung County will increase from $1.21 million in 2007-08 to $1.39 million in 2008-09, an increase of $173,316 or 14.3%.

Steuben County

• Medicaid Cap/FHP Takeover: Projected savings for Steuben County for the Medicaid Cap and State takeover of Family Health Plus will total $4.8 million in 2008-09.
• Consolidated Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS): Total CHIPS funding for Steuben County will increase from $3.19 million in 2007-08 to $3.69 million in 2008-09, an increase of $500,215 or 15.7%.

City of Binghamton

• School Aid: Total NYS School Aid to City of Binghamton school districts will increase from $47.7 million in 2007-08 to $53.8 million in 2008-09, an increase of $6.0 million or 12.6%.
• Aid and Incentives to Municipalities (AIM): Total AIM funding for City of Binghamton residents will increase by $960,987 or 10.8% to $9.8 million in 2008-09.
• Consolidated Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS): Total CHIPS funding for the City of Binghamton will increase from $693,357 thousand in 2007-08 to $824,182 thousand in 2008-09, an increase of $130,825 or 18.9%.

City of Elmira

• School Aid: Total NYS School Aid to City of Elmira school districts will increase from $70.3 million in 2007-08 to $83.7 million in 2008-09, an increase of $13.4 million or 19.1%.
• Aid and Incentives to Municipalities (AIM): Total AIM funding for City of Elmira residents will increase by $398,033 or 9.0% to $4.8 million in 2008-09.
• Consolidated Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS): Total CHIPS funding for the City of Elmira will increase from $550 thousand in 2007-08 to $670 thousand in 2008-09, an increase of $121,297 or 22.0%.

City of Hornell

• Aid and Incentives to Municipalities (AIM): Total AIM funding for the City of Hornell residents will increase by $103,161 or 7.0% to $1.5 million in 2008-09.

City of Corning

• Aid and Incentives to Municipalities (AIM): Total AIM funding for the City of Corning residents will increase by $77,252 or 5.0% to $1.6 million in 2008-09.