Watchdog sees flaws in budget transparency

ALBANY -- While Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and legislators are taking bows for newfound openness in last month's budget process, a good-government group still sees flaws in making the $132 billion spending plan clear and understandable for the taxpayers who pay the bill.

Cuomo issued no "messages of necessity" to pass the budget on time before the April 1 deadline, a rarity for any New York governor in the tense crush of passing a budget.

Citizens Union's recent analysis of the budget gave credit for avoiding messages of necessity, but found Cuomo still ignored several elements of the 2007 budget reform law intended to enact timely budgets with greater transparency.

"The spirit and legal requirements of the 2007 reforms must be met and additional budget reforms are still needed if New Yorkers are to hold state government accountable and trust in the decisions it makes," said Dick Dadey, executive director of Citizens Union.

Citizens Union found:

Major elements of the budget were separated from the actual budget vote.

Cuomo missed the "quick-start" deadline to propose elements of his budget and he and legislative leaders missed the target date for an early start contained in the 2007 budget reform law.

The budget bills are difficult to understand and data weren't released in a format that would allow independent analysis.

Pork-barrel spending, which is supposed to have ended, was done under the guise of "Community Projects Fund" money directed by lawmakers to their districts and in "bullet aide" to specific school districts, mostly without public scrutiny.