New York budget conversations in Albany are winding down — and that's how Gov. Kathy Hochul wants it after announcing a budget framework without details while lawmakers continue to discuss parts left unfinished.
State lawmakers on Wednesday are scheduled to conference remaining details of the the $237 billion Fiscal Year 2024-2025 budget, including parts of the housing package, mayoral control of New York City schools and proposed cuts to Medicaid programs.
Hochul told Spectrum News 1 that legislative leaders have met for their final budget negotiations meeting, which prompted her to announce a conceptual agreement late Monday afternoon.
"They're actually printing the bills right now, so, that's moving along the process and we're just on the verge of wrapping it up," Hochul said. "So, this is good. It's how it has always been done. Nothing unusual. Nothing to see here."
Hochul announced a conceptual budget framework for the second year in a row — moving away from the practice to announce a New York budget deal together with legislative leaders, and instead using the announcement as a tool to force negotiations closed.
State Budget Division officials have not scheduled another meeting with leaders in hopes to pass the budget by the end of the week ahead of a two-week legislative recess.
After lawmakers conferenced the Tuesday, they said they were surprised by Hochul's release of a spending outline before budget language is finalized on significant issues like housing or health spending.
"To me, an agreement is when all the parties in that agreement come together," said Assemblyman Harvey Epstein, a Manhattan Democrat. "They shake hands and say they have an agreement. That wasn't what happened yesterday. And I think going forward, it would be great to have a more collaborative process that requires the Legislature and the executive to have a budget."
But Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie told reporters the governor's announcement of a handshake deal was not premature, even though there's work left to do.
"Anything that the governor raised were things that we discussed and topics that the members knew about it," Heastie said Tuesday. "But we still have not totally closed down everything else."
As state Democrats in the Senate and Assembly weigh the final budget talks of the year, leaders are tasked with selling lawmakers on supporting their near-settled compromise.
Speaker Heastie would not confirm specifics of tenant protections and rent control as lawmakers continue to debate budget language modeled after a bill known as good cause eviction.
The proposal to be included in the budget is expected to exempt luxury renters, new construction for 30 years and require communities outside New York City to opt-in to the policy. Dozens of progressive lawmakers have said they will reject a budget with a watered down version of good cause — like leaving out 2.8 million tenants outside the city.
Bill sponsor Sen. Julia Salazar, a Brooklyn Democrat, said she continues to push leaders to mandate the rent increase cap and other provisions of good cause in upstate communities.
"I think the goal is always 100% of tenants," the senator said Tuesday. "There's no tenant in the state who I don’t think deserves these protections, so it’s important we consider these outside New York City as well."
State Republicans on Tuesday blasted the governor's broad strokes of a housing deal.
"Everything here is long-term," said Sen. Jack Martins, a Republican from Mineola. "By the time all these incentives kick in, if developers build in New York City or elsewhere, it will be five ... 10 years down the line."
Lawmakers said they'll pore over the language, but the clock is ticking as Hochul works to shut the door on debate. But Democrats are expected to have the votes to pass the budget and housing agreement by the end of the week before the start of Passover on Monday. And most lawmakers say they're prepared to vote for a budget even if they don't agree with every piece of it.
Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal said at the end of the day, the $237 billion spending plan will do a lot of good for the state.
"Making cetain that our tenants are protected, restoring cuts to Medicaid and protecting workers in the field who will be building this affordable housing, plus getting a boost to the production of affordable housing ... that's something I can strongly support, even if I don't agree with every detail in the budget," Hoylman-Sigal said.