One-size-fits-all approach to state budgeting perpetuates inequities

One-size-fits-all approach to state budgeting perpetuates inequities

Note: This commentary originally appeared in the Times Union on October 20, 2023.

Some populations are affected more deeply by current economic conditions, and state spending should reflect that.

By Dede Hill, Director of Policy

Last week, state agencies were required to submit their proposed budgets to the governor. The Division of the Budget sent out its annual “call letter” to agencies last month, setting spending parameters on agency budgets. Every agency received the same letter, with the same parameters. 

This year, the instruction to agencies was to present budgets at the same level as last year. (In recent years, call letters have allowed agencies to increase their budgets by 2%.) The reasons cited include the end of historic levels of federal pandemic-era funding along with “softening economic activity, a reduction in State tax receipts, and a humanitarian crisis.” 

While the tone of this call letter wasn’t surprising, it is disappointing to see Gov. Kathy Hochul persist in the longstanding and deeply inequitable practice of setting the same spending limits on all agencies. This practice ignores the fact that tough economic conditions have disproportionate impacts on different sectors and communities, requiring differing responses from the state.

This blanket approach stands to disproportionately harm agencies that have been chronically underfunded, among them the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance and the Office of Children and Family Services, both of which serve the very New Yorkers hit hardest by the state’s current challenges. 

Households that have had to tighten their family budgets understand that the process begins with looking at areas where cuts will be the least painful: Maybe that’s going out to dinner less often, spending less on entertaining, or cutting back on extra purchases. It wouldn’t make sense to start with cutting back on essentials like mortgage payments and child care. Budgeting requires careful consideration, not a one-size-fits-all approach to every type of spending. The same goes for New York’s budget: Some spending areas can be limited less painfully than others, and the impact is not the same across the board. 

As policy director of a nonprofit that advocates for initiatives that prioritize children and families affected by poverty, I have watched this budget dance for many years. And each year, the agencies charged with supporting the state’s least powerful, most marginalized residents are left to shoulder the challenges of tight budgets. This includes agencies serving low-income New Yorkers, children and families involved in the child welfare system, immigrants and those living with disabilities or experiencing homelessness. These are the agencies and populations most in need of state investment. 

One result of this model: For more than a decade, New York has ranked in the bottom third of states for our rate of child poverty: New York children are more likely to live in poverty than in 32 other states.  

If New York is truly committed to becoming a more affordable state for young families and seniors; to turning the tide on child poverty; and to ensuring that all residents are safely housed and well nourished, we must create a new budget playbook, starting now. 

There is still time to get it right. As the next Executive Budget is crafted, Gov. Hochul and the Division of the Budget must return to these agencies – the ones charged with ensuring the health and well-being of the state’s children and communities marginalized by systemic racism, ill-health, disability and poverty – and ask for updated budgets that adequately and equitably meet the most pressing needs of the populations they serve.

At the same time, all agencies should be asked to include budget policies that will reduce or mitigate child poverty and improve racial equity. Finally, if the governor determines cuts are needed, agencies that are better able to tolerate cuts in the current environment should be the ones asked to scale back.  

With realistic agency budgets in hand, budgets that center low-income and marginalized New Yorkers, the governor will be able to create an equitable Executive Budget that brings relief to the New Yorkers hit hardest by the sky-high food prices, runaway housing costs, and child care shortages roiling the state. And that will be a budget that truly reflects who we are as New Yorkers. 

Policy Discussion Series: Addressing Child Poverty

Policy Discussion Series: Addressing Child Poverty

This series of virtual and in-person policy discussions kicked off in June 2023, and examines the intersections of child poverty reduction and other policy areas, including health, early childhood policy, and immigration. Panelists have included policy experts, pediatricians, parent advocates, NYS agency leaders, youth partners, and others invested in ending child poverty in New York State.

Recordings of each policy discussion can be found here.  

Learn more: New York Can End Child Poverty.

Centering Children in the New York State Budget – January 2024 webinar

January 12, 2024 at noon

As Albany gears up for the 2024 New York State legislative session, this insider conversation looks at what we expect (and hope!) to see in this year’s state budget and the investments needed to make New York State a place where families can afford to live, grow, and thrive.

In this webinar, Schuyler Center’s Kate Breslin and Dede Hill discuss budget priorities for New York’s children and families, answer questions, and share resources as we kick off 2024.

View the recording here.

The Power of Guaranteed Income Programs – December 2023 webinar

There are several guaranteed income pilot programs across the state and country. These programs provide a basic income to participants, with no work requirement. During this webinar, panelists discussed lessons learned from these pilot programs, the experience as a participant, and how this type of policy can combat child poverty. View the webinar recording.

Panelists:

View the webinar recording.

View the slides on Guaranteed Income programs presented by Debipriya Chatterjee

Learn more about Guaranteed Income and these programs.

Children in Immigrant Families – October 2023 webinar 

For children in immigrant families, there can be many barriers to services that support well-being. This discussion with immigration and policy experts examined how New York can best support all children, why those investments matter, and opportunities to support the newest New Yorkers.  View the webinar recording.

Panelists:  

View the webinar recording.

 
Early Childhood Foundations – September 2023, in-person event 

This discussion with early childhood experts focused on the intersections of early childhood development and the experience of poverty, as well as the policy interventions that have proven to be effective for families. Held in Albany at The Bull Moose Club, the event brought together advocates, policymakers, community leaders, and state agency leadership. View the recording here. 

panelists discuss child poverty in NYS.

 The discussion was moderated by David Lombardo, host of The Capitol Pressroom, with panelists: 

 View the recording here. 

Child Health and Well-Being – August 2023 webinar 

For families experiencing poverty, there are many barriers to consistent, quality health care. This discussion with leading child health and policy experts focused on how New York supports health for all children, opportunities for improvement, and recommendations for action that addresses health goals within child poverty reduction efforts. View the recording here. 

Panelists: 

View the recording here. 

Learn more about the panelists. 

Progress Update on the Child Poverty Reduction Act – June 2023 webinar 

The first in our discussion series included the co-chair and members of the NYS Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council. The conversation focused on the work the Council has done so far, goals for the coming months, and what lies ahead in pursuit of the Child Poverty Reduction Act goal to reduce the State’s child poverty rate by 50% by 2033. View the recording here. 

Panelists: 

  • Advisory Council co-chair Daniel Tietz, Commissioner of the NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance;  
  • Alyson Tarek, Assistant Secretary for Human Services and Mental Hygiene, NYS Executive Chamber; and  
  • Advisory Council member Candace Cabral, Parent Advocate.  
  • Moderated by Advisory Council member Kate Breslin, President and CEO, Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy 

 
The Times Union covered the panel and the work of the Advisory Council in an article published on June 29. 

View the recording here. 

Meet the Schuyler Center Board: Elizabeth Palley, JD, Ph.D., MSW

Meet the Schuyler Center Board: Elizabeth Palley, JD, Ph.D., MSW

Elizabeth Palley, JD, Ph.D., MSW
Professor at the Adelphi University School of Social Work

Schuyler Center welcomes the newest member of the Board of Trustees, Elizabeth Palley. Dr. Palley joined the Board earlier this year. We asked her to share a bit about why she serves on the Board, and what the work of the Schuyler Center means to her.

Why drew you to serve on the Schuyler Center Board? I learned about the Schuyler Center while doing child care advocacy work. I was impressed by the people I worked with from the organization and was thrilled to be asked to serve on the board.

What does the work of the Schuyler Center mean to you? Why is it important? The Schuyler Center does amazing advocacy work on behalf of children and families. They make sure that the needs of the underserved in our communities are part of policy conversations and help center the voices of people from those communities. They help to organize others in the advocacy community so that we can make more of a difference. I have also been impressed with how well they are able to include providers and former providers in their advocacy around child care.

What are your hopes for the future of the organization? I hope that the Schuyler Center will continue to do the good work that it is doing, advocating for immigrant and refugee families, access to health care for low-income families, universal child care, ending child poverty, and promoting family well-being.

Update: NYS Child Poverty Reduction Act – A Panel Discussion

Update: NYS Child Poverty Reduction Act – A Panel Discussion

On June 28, Schuyler Center hosted a discussion with members of the NYS Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council on the work the Council has done so far, goals for the coming months, and what lies ahead in pursuit of the Child Poverty Reduction Act goal to reduce the State’s child poverty rate by 50% by 2033.

A recording of the panel is available here.

Panelists included Advisory Council members Daniel Tietz, Commissioner of the NYS Office of Temporary and Disability AssistanceAlyson Tarek, Assistant Secretary for Human Services and Mental Hygiene, NYS Executive Chamber; and Candace Cabral, Parent Advocate. Schuyler Center President and CEO Kate Breslin moderated the discussion.

The Times Union covered the panel and the work of the Advisory Council in an article published on June 29.

Upcoming Discussions
This is the first in a series of panels exploring the intersections of child poverty and other policy areas, including early childhood, health, and child welfare. Watch for information about upcoming panel discussions later this summer!

Announcing the Launch of New York Can End Child Poverty

Announcing the Launch of New York Can End Child Poverty

We are excited to announce the launch of New York Can End Child Poverty, an online hub for data, resources, and research on poverty-fighting policies that work. 

A project of Schuyler Center alongside our partners in the quest to end child poverty, New York Can End Child Poverty is designed to support the work of advocates, policymakers, journalists, state leaders, and others committed to ensuring that every child across our state has the opportunity to thrive. 

The site includes resources from the NYS Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Councildata on child poverty rates in New York State, and a searchable Resources library. The site will also host a blog focused on child poverty reduction efforts and public policy recommendations. 

We invite you to explore and share this site – New York can end child poverty, and we need your voice to make that future possible.

website screenshot
Last Look Budget Report and Webinar Recording

Last Look Budget Report and Webinar Recording

Schuyler Center’s Last Look is our initial assessment of the enacted State budget and how it advances priorities that improve the health and well-being of all New Yorkers, especially children and families living in poverty.  

Read the full Last Look report.

During the Last Look Live webinar held on May 9, Schuyler Center’s Policy Team provided an overview of budget actions related to our policy priorities.

Kate Breslin discussed child poverty reduction measures, Crystal Charles gave an overview of child welfare investments, Katie Albitz provided an update on budget actions related to child care, and Lara Kassel and Bridget Walsh discussed investments in health and well-being. Dede Hill highlighted additional Schuyler Center policy priorities for the remainder of this legislative session.

View the recording of the Last Look Live webinar.