Voters will be asked to do more than just pull the lever for the candidates of their choice on Tuesday, November 8. Across the state voters will also be asked to approve or disapprove of four questions, also referred to as propositions, three of which would amend the city and state constitutions, and one is a statewide bond issue. A more detailed account of these questions appears below. Local 237’s recommendations, yes or no, appear in the boxes to the left.

YES	QUESTION 1 – This is an amendment to the State Constitution which would give voters a chance to reform Albany’s budget process. It would eliminate late budgets, open the process for the public and help protect funding for education and health care that is often jeopardized by allowing for a “contingency budget” to go into effect when the state cannot reach consensus on a final budget by the beginning of the fiscal year. FIND OUT MORE BELOW
YES	QUESTION 2 – For a $2.9 billion transportation bond issue to fund repairs and improvements for subways, buses, roads and other transportation. Half the money would go to the MTA. FIND OUT MORE BELOW
NO	QUESTION 3 – Would amend the City Charter to allow the mayor to enact ethics rules for administrative hearing officers. It would empower the mayor and diminish the role of the City Council on this issue. FIND OUT MORE BELOW
NO	QUESTION 4 – Would amend the City Charter to adopt more detailed rules about balancing the city budget. Again, this change would give more power to the mayor over the City Council. Currently, both the mayor and the City Council are co-equal partners in managing the city’s budget. FIND OUT MORE BELOW

A Detailed Look at the Nov. 8 Ballot Questions

QUESTION 1 -- BUDGET REFORM
To many observers and even some of the legislators who must vote to approve the budget at a moment’s notice and sometimes in the middle of the night, the state budget process is hard to understand or explain.

Adding to the confusion is the annual budget battle between the governor and the top leaders of the State Senate and Assembly. As a result, the state budget, which by law must be approved by April 1 — the beginning of the state fiscal year — is always late. A delay in the budget means that government and publicly-funded programs, including education, health care and some important services, are left unfunded during that time and cannot continue to operate.

This proposed amendment to the State Constitution is the result of bipartisan efforts between the Assembly and Senate to ensure that the state delivers a sound budget and that government services are not held hostage by the customary budget battle and delay. The amendment would do the following:

• A “contingency budget” would automatically take effect if a regular budget is not passed by the start of the fiscal year, and it would stay in effect until a regular budget is approved by the Legislature. This contingency budget would essentially authorize state spending at the previous year’s level. This means that schools, health care institutions and other publicly-funded programs can continue to operate and plan ahead.
  
  
• Make public preliminary budget estimates submitted from state agencies. Currently, these budgets are submitted in secret to the governor and the legislative fiscal committees.
  
  
• Change the beginning of the state’s fiscal year from April 1 to May 1, giving the Legislature more time to study and act on the budget submitted by the governor in January.
  
  
• Create an independent budget office to provide fiscal information to lawmakers before they vote, so they know whether revenues are enough to cover the contingency budget.