In his third budget address Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo outlined his proposal for the 2013-14 fiscal year on Tuesday, continuing his insistence on not introducing new taxes and furthering mandate relief.

The governor’s $136.5 billion budget proposal includes several recommendations that would affect local governments, including increased school aid, a reduction in Medicaid spending by municipalities and pension savings.

Mandate relief was clearly a top priority.

“Education and Medicaid make up 50 percent of the state budget,” Mr. Cuomo said, highlighting their importance in any budget discussion.

For that reason Mr. Cuomo’s budget proposal includes a 4.4 percent increase in education spending. The proposal also stipulates that localities are only responsible for two percent of the increasing yearly Medicaid costs, down from three percent in last year’s budget.

By 2016, Mr. Cuomo hopes to hold local governments harmless to any increase in Medicaid costs.

“The key here is that the commitment continues,” Sen. Joseph A. Griffo, R-Rome said.

Mr. Griffo thinks it’s a positive sign. “Ultimately there will be substantial savings,” he said.

Assemblyman Kenneth J. Blankenbush, R-Black River, agreed.

“As part of mandate relief for local municipal governments, that’s a big help,” he said.

Another aspect of the governor’s proposed budget is designed to enable local governments to tackle increasing pension costs.

In 2012 the state introduced tier six, a pension amendment for new employees that is easier on the budgets of local governments, but savings will not immediately be seen.

“Local governments have a short term problem,” Mr. Cuomo said. “We’re proposing a tier six financing plan where you are financing against the savings in the out-years.”

Mr. Cuomo’s proposal would encourage localities to enact a stable rate pension contribution option designed to give local governments and school districts access to out-year savings now.

“This is a significant way to alleviate the financial stress on local governments. It basically provides a financing plan to get municipalities through this pension bubble,” Mr. Cuomo said.

Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell, D-Theresa, said that whenever she speaks with local officials and school officials in her district, pension relief is at the top of their agenda.

“Because of the fact that pension costs are what are driving budgets at the local levels … this proposal is something that will be helpful. I’m glad to see that there’s a way to smooth out these pension spikes,” Senator Patricia A. Ritchie, R-Heuvelton said

Mrs. Ritchie cautioned that, “The devil’s in the details,” and said she is interested in reading the specific budget language once the bill is released.

Mr. Griffo also applauded the governor’s pension plan proposal.

But Mr. Cuomo’s pension proposal isn’t being greeted with universal enthusiasm.

“At first blush it seems like it’s not a good idea to be borrowing money in anticipation of savings,” Mr. Blankenbush said. “The bottom line is: you still have to pay it.”

The governor’s proposal may include mandate relief and pension savings, but it doesn’t increase the aid given to local governments.

“It doesn’t surprise me,” Mr. Griffo said.

Mrs. Russell agreed.

“The economy in the state really has not rebounded to the point where we can just open up our wallets and start handing money out to everyone,” she said.

Mr. Blankenbush was not as willing to accept the aid amounts that other legislators were describing as essentially inevitable.

“When you have flat aid, and when you’re looking at municipalities that are trying to live under the two percent cap and who’s operating costs are going up… by keeping it flat it also means that municipalities are going to be going into the hole more,” Mr. Blankenbush said. “Municipalities have to balance their budget.”

The Legislature will review the governor’s budget proposal over the coming weeks.

The due date for the state budget is April 1, but Mr. Griffo said, because of this year’s Easter and Passover holidays, the budget will need to be finalized a week in advance or risk being late.

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