Council members feel left out of city budget loop

Lawmakers say Jennings raised idea of committee last year, didn't follow up

Published on 9/4/2008 by the Times Union written by TIM O'BRIEN, Staff writer, Times Union

ALBANY -- Before last year's budget vote, Mayor Jerry Jennings sent a last-minute letter to the Common Council proposing a joint committee to work on the 2009 spending plan.

With the city facing a $14.7 million deficit next year and a budget due to the council by Oct. 1, members say the proposed collaborative effort never materialized.

Asked what became of the offer, Council President Shawn Morris says bluntly, "Nothing."

Robert Van Amburgh, the mayor's executive assistant, said the mayor still intends to involve the council.

"The mayor is very, very anxious to fully engage the council members in the budget discussion," he said. "That committee was never finalized in the way some people thought it would be."

But Van Amburgh said the mayor is still talking to Gov. David Paterson about additional state aid. The governor vetoed a bill to give the city $5.5 million this year and $11 million over the next 30 years as a payment in lieu of taxes for the Harriman State Office Campus.

"It would make logical sense to have that discussion first as to whether there is any state aid coming," Van Amburgh said.

Budget Director Chris Hearley declined to discuss what plans are being made to reduce the gap.

Common Council member Dominick Calsolaro said last year he recommended a 5 percent cut across the board and the elimination of all vacant positions. The mayor responded by calling him "crazy" in a television interview, he said.

Calsolaro said Jennings' failure to follow up on a joint committee was business as usual.

"The council is not included in anything," he said.

Council President Pro Tempore Richard Conti agreed: "We've consistently in the past put out similar offers for some kind of joint effort. Nothing has happened in that regard except the need to pursue additional state revenue."

Council Majority Leader Carolyn McLaughlin said she, too, is concerned the committee never met. But she is also upset a trio of Democratic state legislators -- Assemblymen Jack McEneny and Ron Canestrari and Sen. Neil Breslin -- were unable to convince Paterson to provide some added aid.

"I am particularly appalled our legislators weren't able to get more money," she said. "You've got McEneny, Canestrari and Breslin, and between them they must have more than 60 years of experience."

Canestrari, Breslin and McEneny said they got the bill approved.

"Jack and I passed the bill in our house, reached out to the governor's office and asked them to sign it and support it," Canestrari said.

The legislators also proposed a bailout over a shorter period of time to no avail, he said.

"There is always hope that something else can be done," he said. "I think the need is critical in Albany."

McEneny said McLaughlin's wrath should be reserved for the governor.

"We were successful. The governor disagreed," he said. "If she wants to blame somebody, it seems a shame to knock the people who accomplished the feat -- unless she is carrying water for somebody else."

"I'm very disappointed in Carolyn. Possibly she is unaware the legislation was sponsored by Jack McEneny and myself. We lobbied hard," Breslin added, "and we were unsuccessful because of the economic state of New York state." Tim O'Brien can be reached at 454-5092 or by e-mail at tobrien@timesunion.com.