Transportation funding got the go ahead from voters this week in New York while budget reform was denied.

Voters soundly rejected changes to the state budget process and shifting budget-making powers from the governor to the state Legislature. The ballot effort sought to let lawmakers write their own budget if they failed to agree with the governor by the beginning of the fiscal year.

The contingency budget would have been based on the prior year's spending.

Voters did approve a second ballot effort allowing the state to borrow $2.9 billion for transportation work statewide. It is one source of funding for a five-year, $36 billion package approved by Gov. George Pataki and the Legislature.

Revenue would be divided evenly between the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the New York State Department of Transportation, for roads, bridges, ports, transit and other projects.

The new debt will be repaid out of the state's general revenue during the next several decades.