Cuomo: State can afford Irene's costs

ALBANY -- Even though he trimmed spending just months ago, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said he doesn't think Tropical Storm Irene will blow a hole through the state budget.

Cuomo has estimated that the storm did nearly $1 billion worth of damage in New York. He figured that most of the recovery costs will be covered by private insurance and federal aid, although there will be some burden on the state. Exactly how much isn't clear yet.

"We are going to do what we have to do and we are going to repair the roads and bridges that we have to repair and I believe we will be able to do it within the existing budget framework," Cuomo said when asked how his recent 10 percent cut to state operations might impact recovery efforts.

Cuomo said he doesn't expect to have to borrow to cover costs but could not rule anything out at this point.

"We will finance what we need to finance. I don't anticipate any additional borrowing," Cuomo said, adding: "Of course, we don't have a full scope of the damage . . . and what the state will be paying yet."

Across the state, 600 homes were destroyed, six towns inundated, 150 major highways damaged and 22 state bridges closed. Agriculture losses topped $45 million. The heaviest damage -- from flooding, not winds -- was in the Schoharie Valley, and in the Catskills and Adirondack mountains.

Local governments in 19 counties have been declared eligible for federal aid; homeowners, renters and small businesses in 20 counties also are eligible.

Cuomo took a shot at congressional Republicans who have argued in Washington, D.C., that no additional disaster aid should go out before spending is cut in other programs.

"Enough with the bickering, just do the job. Finance this urgent need now," Cuomo said. "[When] a person has 3 feet of mud in his home . . . there's no Democratic or Republican way to shovel the mud out of the house."