The federal government has committed an enormous sum—$787 billion over 27 months—to aid the economy. This letter from CBC President Carol Kellermann to the Legislature warns that the federal aid to New York is limited and temporary and addresses the challenge of using the federal money available for next year’s budget wisely, suggests 10 “do’s and don’ts” for using the federal funds and closing the budget gap while avoiding harmful cuts and tax increases, and highlights possible allocation of the funds.

This letter to the State Legislature, written in conjunction with the NYS AFL-CIO, the Metropolitan Development Association of Syracuse and Central New York and the Partnership for New York City, is in support of Governor David Paterson's proposal to scale back the almost $600 million-a-year Empire Zone Program.