For Immediate Release

April 4, 2018

"I am encouraged by the enacted 2018-19 state budget, which delivers the necessary ability to expend funds to SUNY’s three state-owned-and-operated public hospitals and provides additional funding to campuses to deal with enrollment increases from the state’s Excelsior Scholarship program.

"With the state facing a $4.5 billion budget deficit, UUP recognized early in the budgeting process that this would be a challenging year. We thank the governor and the Legislature for their efforts regarding public higher education, especially SUNY.

"The budget provides spending authority for the state to expend $92 million for SUNY’s public hospitals in Brooklyn, Stony Brook and Syracuse. These funds, from a variety of sources, will provide critical operating support for these crucial centers of healing.

"The governor has kept his commitment to the state university by budgeting $20 million to reimburse SUNY for costs associated with the Excelsior Scholarship. Also, funding for SUNY’s highly successful opportunity programs has been restored, which will allow these important initiatives to continue and grow."