Heating aid may be tied to higher prices, poverty
WASHINGTON — Northern New Yorkers looking for more help paying their heating bills next winter may have to pin their hopes on higher energy prices.
The Obama administration proposed a slight increase in the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program — but only in case of high energy costs or climbing poverty rates.
Otherwise, the program is in line for a cut in funding.
The budget proposed by the White House includes $3.3 billion in base funding, which is sharply less than the $5.1 billion the government is spending this year. An additional $2 billion is tied to a proposed "trigger" that would kick in if energy prices spike or there is a big increase in the number of families in poverty, the administration said.
Congress last year rejected a similar proposal, which would have triggered additional funding if home heating oil or natural gas prices were at least 15 percent higher in a quarter than a year earlier and electricity prices at least 10 percent higher.
Funding tied to the trigger would have been $329 million, considerably less than the administration proposes for fiscal 2011. The proposed trigger would provide $6.5 billion during the next decade, the administration estimated.
New York typically receives more LIHEAP aid than any other state, and much of that money goes to Northern New York. But despite program funding increases, the program reaches only a fraction of the number of eligible families, advocates say.
The LIHEAP funding is among the budget's myriad potential effects on the north country. Generally, the Obama administration froze funding for non-defense programs, but picked out certain programs for increases or restructuring.
Funding for impact aid, which provides money to schools with large numbers of students from Fort Drum families, will remain essentially unchanged, but funding levels to specific schools remain to be determined.
Community Development Block Grants will be "fully funded" at $4.4 billion, the administration said, but it also will take a closer look at the consolidated plans states and localities draft to receive funds. The administration also plans changes in performance measures for communities that receive grants.
Essential Air Service, the subsidies that support passenger flights to Watertown, Ogdensburg and Massena, would be funded at this year's levels.
The St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corp. was budgeted for $33 million, also unchanged but a big increase over past decades to reflect continued maintenance and repair to the system.
Programs to clean the Great Lakes took a budget hit, with the administration proposing a reduction to $330 million, from $475 million this year. Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., expressed reservations about that item in a conference call with New York reporters.
The administration also proposed flat funding for the federal Title I education program, which provides money for schools with large percentages of economically disadvantaged students. A major source of funds for north country schools, it is usually fiercely defended by area lawmakers; Mr. Schumer said the administration seems to be moving away from the Title I program in favor of programs for which school districts have to compete — a move he said he would oppose.
