NYSSSA

NEW YORK STATE SENATE
Albany, New York 12247

Albany Office: 518 - 455-2031
District Office: 914 - 934-5250
oppenhei@senate.state.ny.us

SUZI OPPENHEIMER
Senator, 37th District

June 10 , 2009


Dear Constituent:

Thank you for writing regarding the funding issues surrounding the
New York State Summer School for the Arts. Unfortunately, the program did
not receive the full restoration in the final state budget to the $1.745
million level requested. The funding for the New York State Summer School
for the Arts is set at $1.59 million for the 2009 – 2010 fiscal year.

I appreciated your comments about the importance of the New York
State Summer School for the Arts. The program serves high school students
well and maintains New York State’s commitment to arts and entertainment.
This budget year was the most difficult I have taken part in all my years
as a State Senator. Many programs such as the New York State Summer School
for the Arts were reduced from requested levels or defunded. My colleagues
and I in the Legislature worked to restore funds while also facing a $17
billion deficit. Moreover, state revenues are falling and the recently
passed budget may need to be revisited if our economy continues to falter.
Please know that I will continue to advocate for the New York State Summer
School for the Arts and hope to restore the funding to adequate levels in
the future.

Thank you for your writing on this issue. Please feel free to
contact me on this or any other issue in the future.

Sincerely,


Suzi Oppenheimer

State Senator