Gov. Cuomo is warning state officials of the necessity of keeping the lid on new spending for at least the next two years.

Cuomo administration Budget Director Robert Megna, in a letter made public Tuesday, ordered agency heads to “assume zero growth” in their spending plans for the next two fiscal years, as the state works to cover long-term deficits.

The spending freeze, however, does not include health care and education aid, which Cuomo has already pledged to increase by as much as 4% in the coming fiscal year.

“Gov. Cuomo remains committed to holding the line on state spending while maintaining his pledge to increase support for schools and health care in a sustainable manner,” Megna wrote in the letter. He wrote that Cuomo hopes to limit overall spending growth to 2% or less “over the course of his administration” and he urged agency heads to “work smarter” and find greater efficiencies.

Any new spending, Megna added, must be balanced by spending cuts in other areas.

“In other words, 2013-14 budget requests cannot achieve zero growth through fiscal gimmicks or one-time actions,” Megna said.

The state faces a $982 million deficit in the 2013-14 budget, which begins on April 1, according to administration estimates…..

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