Update: Proposal would use state sales tax money to pay for Upstate transit systems.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - State lawmakers are working on changes to Gov. Andrew Cuomo's budget to ensure Centro will not have to cut bus services or routes in Central New York, Sen. John DeFrancisco said today.

"I feel very confident we're going to be having a solution on that," said DeFrancisco, R-Syracuse, who chairs the Senate Finance Committee.

The changes, prepared by Centro's lobbyists, call on the state to provide an extra $25 million in taxpayer money for Upstate transit authorities in the coming year, according to documents provided by DeFrancisco.

That extra money would come from state sales tax revenues, according to Centro. In subsequent years, the amount going to Upstate transit would increase at the same rate as sales tax growth. If the state's sales tax collections flattened or shrank, the Upstate transit authorities like Centro would get the same amount from the state as the previous year, according to the proposal.

DeFrancisco expects that language to be included in the New York State Senate's version of the budget, which will be debated and voted on next week.

An Assembly source said today that chamber, also, plans to include the proposal in its version of the budget.

"I think (Centro) will be funded so they don't cut routes, otherwise that part of the budget is not going to be acceptable to us," DeFrancisco said of Senate Republicans, who control the upper house.

The announcement by DeFrancisco is an indication that Centro's budget woes have drawn serious attention from lawmakers in Albany. But it's no guarantee that Centro -- and its riders -- will get the money needed to avoid service cuts. Lawmakers are working with Cuomo to finalize a $142 billion state budget by April 1.

Centro is facing a $4.5 million budget shortfall, a gap that is expected to double in the next three years if nothing changes. To make up the difference this year, Centro has proposed cutting late-night, Sunday and holiday services throughout Onondaga, Oneida, Cayuga and Oswego counties.

DeFrancisco said Cuomo's budget increases spending for the Metropolitan Transit Authority, the public transit system in and around New York City. "It's clearly justified," DeFrancisco said of helping Upstate transit like Centro.

Centro is holding a series of public hearings this month to hear from people about the proposed cuts.

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