Syracuse, NY - Gov. David Paterson delivered 6,700 line-item vetoes to the state legislature on Wednesday, denying pork barrel spending to hundreds of community groups, libraries, little leagues and schools across the state. Paterson rejected nearly $200 million in member items, including $5,000 grants promised to Central New York non-profit groups like the Onondaga Oswego Chapter of the Red...
New York Gov. David Paterson vetoes spending in budget bills at his office at the Capitol in Albany, N.Y., on July 1, 2010. He delivered the vetoed bills to the state Assembly on Wednesday.Paterson rejected nearly $200 million in member items, including $5,000 grants promised to Central New York non-profit groups like the Onondaga Oswego Chapter of the Red Cross and the North Syracuse Babe Ruth League, and bigger amounts for Syracuse University, the Syracuse Chargers Rowing Club, the Syracuse Model Neighborhood Facility, Jubilee Homes and several libraries and schools.
These are grants state legislators passed out in previous years to groups that have not yet been paid by the state. The legislature did not put any new member items in this year’s budget.
Paterson did not veto his own unspent member items because he cannot veto his own budget. His staff said no money will be spent this year on Paterson’s pet projects.
The list of vetoes is available on Paterson’s web site. Legislators and groups were still reviewing it Wednesday to see which of their requests did not make it. The list is 693 pages.
The Assembly and the Senate could vote to override many of the governor’s vetoes, but Senate Republicans are unlikely to offer the Democratic majority enough votes for the 2/3-majority required for an override.
Walt Dixie, executive director of Jubilee Homes, said his group has spent the $20,000 it was promised last year and planned to spend another $20,000 grant that does not appear to be coming for this year. The money pays for the Southwest Showcase Sundays summer concerts, home maintenance and a youth farm stand program. Dixie said he was surprised the hear the Legislature would go back on last year’s promises to small groups that already spent the money.
“The small print says don’t spend it unless you have it, but that’s never been the case for us,” Dixie said. “We’ll be very disappointed. If that’s the case, we would have to stop doing what we’re doing with our Showcase unless we get some outside money.”
Elizabeth Dailey, director of the Onondaga County Public Library, said the library would have used its $7,000 grant to pay for subscriptions to electronic databases, including one called “Reference USA,” a database of business phone numbers and addresses. Libraries are counting on member item grants to fill in holes left by a $2.4 million cut in general aid to libraries in New York, she said.
Syracuse University was counting on $100,000 member item from Assemblyman Bill Magnarelli, D-Syracuse, for its Renaissance Internship Program. The money pays local companies to employ students.
In addition to member items, Paterson also vetoed about $530 million on spending on aid for schools and higher education.
Michelle Breidenbach can be reached at mbreidenbach@syracuse.com or (315) 470-3186.
Vetoed
Below are some of the state Legislature’s member item grants to Central New York organizations which were vetoed by Gov. David Paterson. Click here for a complete list of vetoed spending posted on the governor’s website.
Community General Hospital, $200,000
Syracuse Model Neighborhood Facility, $186,896
Syracuse Chargers Rowing Club, $150,000
Home Aides of Central New York Senior Respite Program, $142,000
Syracuse University Renaissance Internship Program, $100,000
Syracuse Parks and Recreation Department, $70,000
SUNY Cortland, $50,000
Central New York Labor Agency, $50,000
Fabius Pompey Central School, $50,000
Oneida City School District, $50,000
Syracuse Model Neighborhood Facility, $45,000
Syracuse Model Neighborhood Facility, $41,454
Cortland County Family YMCA, $40,000
AFL-CIO Central New York Labor Council, $35,000
Onondaga County Public Library, $35,000
Operation Oswego County, $25,000
Town of Geddes, $25,000
Cazenovia Central School District, $20,000
Jubilee Homes of Syracuse, $20,000
Community General Hospital, $20,000
Onondaga Cortland Madison BOCES Library System, $20,000
Cortland County Child Development Day Care Program, $20,000
Cortland County Youth Bureau, $20,000
Cortland College Childrens Center, $20,000
Vera House, $18,800
Syracuse Teachers Trust, $15,000
Onondaga Cortland Madison BOCES School Library System, $15,000
Meals on Wheels of Syracuse, $15,000
Syracuse University, $15,000
Onondaga County Public Library, $15,000
Central New York Regional Transportation Authority, $15,000
Syracuse Model Neighborhood Facility, $15,000
Town of Cicero, $14,800
Syracuse Model Neighborhood Facility, $12,742
North Syracuse School District, $10,000
Spanish Action League of Onondaga County, $10,000
Onondaga County Public Library, $10,000
NYSARC Inc., Onondaga Chapter, $10,000
Cayuga County Office for the Aging, $10,000
Central New York Labor Council, $10,000
Access to Independence of Cortland County, $10,000
Auburn Memorial Hospital, $10,000
Syracuse Women’s Information Center, $9,000
Fayetteville Free Library, $8,000
Onondaga County Public Library, $7,000
Syracuse Model Neighborhood Facility, $6,371
NYSARC, Madison and Cortland Chapter, $6,000
Central New York Library Resources Council, $5,200
Central New York Teaching Center, $5,000
East Syracuse Meals on Wheels, $5,000
Onondaga Oswego Chapter of American Red Cross, $5,000
North Syracuse Babe Ruth League, $5,000
National Kidney Foundation of Central New York, $5,000
Connections of Central New York, $5,000
Auburn YMCA, $5,000
Onondaga County Public Library, $4,500
Marcellus Free Library, $4,000
North Syracuse Lion’s Club, $4,000
Unity House of Cayuga County, $3,000