Cuomo to present dreaded 2011-12 state budget

ALBANY — Gov. Andrew Cuomo will propose a 2011-12 budget of pain.

A state official with knowledge of a private meeting between Cuomo and legislative leaders Monday night said Cuomo is considering cuts of 2 percent to 3 percent in school aid and in Medicaid, while proposing as many as 10,000 state layoffs.

A Cuomo official wouldn’t comment.

The state official says Cuomo discussed the rare cuts as true reductions from current funding levels. Annual state school aid is about $21 billion while the Medicaid health care program for the poor and working poor costs more than $50 billion.

The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because discussion during the executive mansion meeting Monday night wasn’t supposed to be released before Cuomo’s budget address on Tuesday.