State Budget

Push to include more school funding in New York state budget

BY Ryan Whalen Williamsville

WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. -- In 2023, New York, for the first time, fully funded public education under the state’s Foundation Aid formula.

State Sen. Sean Ryan, D-Buffalo, said after several years of budget victories, few advocates expected the trend to continue this year but what the governor proposed was an actual cut.

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Advocate discusses NY HEAT Act, other environmental priorities

BY Susan Arbetter New York State

There are several proposals on environmental wish lists this legislative session, including the NY HEAT Act, which advocates say will save New Yorkers money and move them off fossil fuels, as well as the Climate Change Superfund Act, which would make polluters pay for the cost of the climate transition.

“This is a very important budget for lawmakers and the governor to get right when it comes to environmental protections and addressing climate change,” Liz Moran, a policy advocate for Earthjustice, told Capital Tonight.

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Experts weigh in on what's next for state budget negotiations amid disagreements on revenue raisers

BY Jack Arpey New York State

With both the state Assembly and Senate voting to pass their one house budgets Thursday afternoon, things head into the next stage of the process: negotiations with Gov. Kathy Hochul.

Last year, disagreements over housing and changes to bail reform held up the process for over a month with an agreement not coming until May.

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Syracuse city auditor calls for more state funding for localities

BY Tim Williams New York State

Syracuse's newly minted city auditor Alexander Marion is calling on Gov. Kathy Hochul to devote more money to Aid and Incentives for Municipalities, or AIM funding, and commission a task force to redesign the formula.

In a letter sent to Hochul on Thursday, Marion argues “funding for municipalities needs to be a priority for New York state.”

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New York state Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins discusses her chamber's one-house budget

BY Susan Arbetter New York State

The New York state Senate and Assembly’s one-house budgets released this week deliver good news for an array of interests from school districts to hospitals, to cannabis growers. They do this by raising $2.2 billion in new taxes on the state’s corporations as well as the state’s very highest earners, something Gov. Kathy Hochul has said is “a non-starter."

According to Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, the tax increases are important because the needs in the state are so great.

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State Legislature releases budget priorities as negotiations continue

BY Bernadette Hogan New York State

Democratic state lawmakers are letting Gov. Kathy Hochul know where their priorities are in what’s known as their “one-house” budget proposals that were released earlier Tuesday.

The plans will serve as roadmaps for the next couple of weeks in negotiations leading up to the state’s April 1 budget deadline.

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In one-house budgets, New York Legislature rejects end to 'Save Harmless' while funding formula study

BY Jack Arpey New York State

The New York state Senate and Assembly on Tuesday released their one-house budget proposals, and as expected, both rejected Gov. Kathy Hochul’s proposal to end "Save Harmless."

"Save Harmless," also known as "Hold Harmless," ensures that districts don’t receive less in Foundation Aid than the previous year and has been a major issue of contention so far this legislative session, also receiving significant pushback from Republican lawmakers.

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Next phase of state budget negotiations begins

BY Bernadette Hogan New York State

The next phase of Albany’s budget negotiations kicked off Monday night, as both Democratic state Senate and Assembly conferences were poised to release their “one house” budget proposals.

Only the state Senate’s document was released online late Monday night as R1952. The documents establish the Legislature’s stance on Gov. Kathy Hochul’s 2024 $233 billion budget proposal released in January.

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A war of words over tax hikes, affordability when it comes to why people are leaving New York

BY Susan Arbetter New York State

The New York state Assembly and Senate will release and vote on their own one-house budgets this week. One of the big questions the budgets will answer is this: Will lawmakers push for a tax hike on the state’s wealthiest citizens or not?

New York relies heavily on the Personal Income Tax (PIT) tax, so a perennial argument in Albany balances whether to increase taxes on the wealthy to bring in needed revenue, against the possibility of the wealthy fleeing the state.

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New York budget watchdog: Focus should be on spending restraints

BY Tim Williams New York State

The Citizens Budget Commission, a non-partisan fiscal watchdog group, released their outlook for the New York state budget on Thursday that warns that even with a brighter outlook for the state’s economy, a focus should be placed on spending restraints. The group also released a list of recommendations which includes keeping spending growth below 2% and not increasing taxes.

The report points out that the executive budget proposal for fiscal year 2025 is balanced but structural budget imbalances will exceed $16.4 billion by fiscal year 2028. The report also finds that Medicaid and school aid spending “would continue at unsustainable rates” despite savings that are proposed in this fiscal year’s budget. The report warns that even with projected economic growth, spending restraints “remain necessary” to close out-year budget gaps.

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UpgradeNY wants funding to build thermal energy networks at 2 SUNY campuses

BY Luke Parsnow New York State

A collaboration of unions, climate advocates, building industry representatives and environmental groups is calling for New York to decarbonize state-owned college campuses as part of the state budget.

Known as UpgradeNY, the group wants union-led funding to build thermal energy networks at the State University of New York at Buffalo and Purchase to decarbonize heating and cooling on their campuses, the group said Thursday morning.

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New York state Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie discusses budget issues, education

BY Susan Arbetter New York State

With redistricting in the rearview mirror and one-house budgets expected to be released next week, Capital Tonight sat down with New York state Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie to discuss a variety of topics, including education aid.

The speaker stated he is looking to make sure rural and suburban schools don’t lose money in this year’s budget; and that there is an appetite for revisiting the Foundation Aid formula.

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Farmers prep to lobby New York Legislature ahead of budget talks

BY Kate Lisa New York State

Farmers from around the state will lobby state lawmakers Tuesday before state budget talks grow serious to increase funding to support local food production and small family farms grappling with increased costs and green energy mandates.

Hundreds of members of the New York Farm Bureau kicked off the annual agricultural lobbying effort with a reception in the Empire State Plaza Convention Center on Monday night — showing off dozens of locally produced vegetables, fruits, craft beverages and other products.

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New York public defenders, DAs push for more student loan repayment help

BY Ryan Whalen Buffalo

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- According to the American Bar Association, the average law student graduates with $130,000 in student loan debt.

Many are able to quickly make a dent by going into lucrative private or corporate practices, but Amanda Jack of the Legal Aid Society says those who go into publicly funded work typically make far less.

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NYCOM again pushes for increase in state funding for local governments

BY Luke Parsnow New York State

The New York state Conference of Mayors and Municipal Officials (NYCOM) is once again reiterating a request to increase funding for local governments that pays for things like supplies and wages for police officers and firefighters, according to a letter it sent to Gov. Kathy Hochul and legislative leaders.

AIM funding, which stands for Aid to Municipalities, has totaled about $715 million a year since 2012 and has remained relatively stagnant since that time. Mayors from across the state have been pushing for an increase after AIM funding level remained the same in the governor's executive budget proposal.

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New York state Senate Finance Chair Liz Krueger on House maps, budget hearings and housing

BY Susan Arbetter New York State

In a wide-ranging conversation with Capital Tonight on Friday, New York state Senate Finance Committee Chair Liz Krueger discussed health care, raising revenue, housing and the new congressional maps approved Thursday by the Independent Redistricting Commission (IRC).

According to Krueger, the full Senate Democratic conference has yet to review the maps, but she wasn’t impressed by what she saw.

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New York's finances stabilized since pandemic and budget gaps reduced, but challenges remain, comptroller report says

BY Luke Parsnow New York State

New York state Comptroller Tim DiNapoli says the state’s finances have stabilized after the years-long disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic, and along with the state Division of the Budget, is forecasting reduced budget gaps while pointing out that fiscal risks and challenges remain, according to a report on the budget his office released Thursday.

“New York state has taken positive steps to stabilize its finances with higher reserves and lower projected budget gaps,” DiNapoli said in a statement. “Still, the Executive and the Legislature face the difficult challenge of ensuring adequate funding for our schools, health care programs, and other critical needs while improving the state’s affordability."

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Drug policy expert on the importance of the recovery movement

BY Susan Arbetter New York State

Even as the worst snowstorm in years hit New York City on Tuesday, hundreds of advocates and people in recovery rallied at the state Capitol Tuesday for Stand Up for Recovery Day. The day celebrates the promise of recovery from addiction and serves as a chance to educate elected officials on the recovery movement.

“Especially nowadays, with the drugs being so lethal, when folks make it to recovery, you’ve got to really support them staying there,” said attorney and drug policy expert Rob Kent, president of Kent Strategic Advisors.

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New York budget proposal defunds program that helps keep people in their homes

BY Susan Arbetter New York State

During a legislative session when housing is at the top of the agenda, the head of New York’s Homeowner Protection Program (HOPP) argues it would be shortsighted not to fund a program that keeps people in their homes.

“[HOPP] has been extremely successful at preserving home ownership. (It’s) very cost-effective, and it’s regrettable that every year we go through this exercise of having to justify ourselves and ensure that the Legislature doesn’t let the state’s investment in this network lapse by defunding the program,” Jacob Inwald, director of litigation and economic justice at Legal Services NYC, told Capital Tonight.

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New York Assembly Higher Education Committe chair Pat Fahy wants more state aid for SUNY, CUNY

BY Susan Arbetter New York State

According to state Education Department figures, New York’s public schools are seeing their lowest enrollment numbers since the years after World War II, and that decline is affecting public and private institutions of higher education across the state — from the lecture hall to the budget office.

On Friday, lawmakers heard from higher education leaders, including SUNY Chancellor Dr. John King, in a marathon budget hearing. King has said that SUNY either needs more operating aid from the state or an increase in tuition to address the system’s financial needs.

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New York farming advocates, lawmakers lay out agricultural budget priorities

BY Jack Arpey New York State

Members of and advocates for New York’s farming industry came to Albany this week to outline their legislative priorities, as the U.S. Department of Agriculture predicted that farm income in the US will decline by record levels in 2024.

“Agriculture and Markets is the industry’s economic development arm, there are so many things in the governor’s executive budget that farmers rely on,” said Jeff Williams, director of public policy for the New York Farm Bureau.

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New York United Teachers, rural educators concerned about proposed Foundation Aid changes

BY Jack Arpey New York State

School districts and education experts are continuing to express concerns about Gov. Kathy Hochul’s plan to end "Save Harmless," also known as "Hold Harmless," which ensures that districts don’t see a decrease in Foundation Aid funding compared to the previous year.

At Berne-Knox-Westerlo Central School District, administrators say increases in Foundation Aid in the years following the Great Recession have yielded significant improvements to services offered to students as well as the district’s facilities.

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New York environmental agencies questioned on attainability of state's climate goals

BY Jack Arpey New York State

New York lawmakers met yet again within the marble walls of Albany's Legislative Office Building Wednesday to hear testimony on the state’s environmental conservation budget, with topics ranging from assistance for farmers to New York’s State Park system.

Some of the more heated exchanges we’ve seen at these hearings so far this session, however, were directed at the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and the New York state Department of Environmental Conservation. They're largely concerned with the attainability of New York’s climate goals.

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NYCOM makes argument for increased 'Aid to Municipalities' funding

BY Susan Arbetter New York State

The money that municipalities like Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and Albany receive from the state is called Aid to Municipalities, or AIM funding. Cities use AIM to pay for things like supplies and wages for police officers and firefighters. AIM has totaled about $715 million a year since 2012.

Using the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics calculator, if you spent $1,000 on supplies and wages back in 2012, they would cost you $353 more in 2024.

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Mayors of New York's cities push for more state funding for local governments

BY Jack Arpey New York State

Tuesday was Tin Cup Day in Albany, when mayors from across New York meet with state lawmakers to discuss their funding priorities.

Following New York City Mayor Eric Adams, mayors from Albany, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and Yonkers answered questions from lawmakers on what their city’s needs are, with lawmakers grilling them on specifics.

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New York migrant influx alters state budget proposal

BY Tim Williams and Marisa Jacques New York State

For more than a year, migrants have been bused from the southern border to Democratic-led cities like New York, putting a strain on the social safety net and uprooting migrants who, in some cases, have traveled hundreds or thousands of miles.

Murad Awawdeh, executive director of the New York Immigration Coalition, joined Capital Tonight on Thursday to discuss the budget and the impact it’ll have on New York’s immigrant community.

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As expected, questions over Foundation Aid funding dominate New York education budget hearing

BY Jack Arpey New York State

New York lawmakers gathered in Albany Thursday for a joint hearing on the state’s education budget.

Members of the state Education Department were on hand to testify, and as expected, much of the conversation surrounded the governor’s proposal to end "Save Harmless," also known as "hold harmless." It ensures that districts don’t receive less Foundation Aid funding from one year to the next.

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'Save Harmless' continues to be the focus ahead of New York education budget hearing

BY Jack Arpey New York State

This week at the Capitol, we’ve heard about a push for universal free lunches, we’ve heard from lawmakers hoping to put new restrictions on IDAs giving tax breaks, and Gov. Kathy Hochul awarded $100 million for 50 school districts and BOCES to address pandemic learning loss, all as key players continue to express concerns about the governor’s proposal to end a policy known as "Save Harmless."

On Thursday, lawmakers will gather in Albany for a joint hearing to address the state’s education budget. It’s an opportunity for members of the Legislature to hear testimony from those on the front lines.

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N.Y. state Senate GOP's education legislative package aims to counteract Hochul's funding proposals

BY Luke Parsnow New York State

New York state Senate Republicans unveiled a legislative package Tuesday aimed to counteract changes to education funding outlined by Gov. Kathy Hochul in her executive budget proposal earlier this month.

The governor is proposing a $35.3 billion school aid package that includes a 2.1% jump, or a $507 million increase, in Foundation Aid, the primary school funding formula, but despite that increase, as well as aid tied to expenses, some view that as a cut from last year.

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Education Trust-NY previews literacy campaign

BY Susan Arbetter New York State

As part of her education budget, Gov. Kathy Hochul set aside $10 million for teacher training to help educators ease into a new curriculum to teach literacy.

At the same time, the Education Trust-NY is launching what it calls “The New York Campaign for Early Literacy” Tuesday at the state Capitol.

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Education expert explains why Hochul’s budget plan is causing 'dissatisfaction' among school officials

BY Susan Arbetter New York State

Over the last few years, Gov. Kathy Hochul has brought school funding up to record levels in New York state by fully funding the primary school aid formula that funds schools.

But according to education stakeholders, under her 2.4% increase this year, many school districts will see a decrease in their aid allotment, which may result in drastic reductions to student programming and opportunities. The reason? Inflation is at 4.1%.

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N.Y. lawmakers, advocates encouraged by Hochul's mental health budget but concerned about workforce

BY Jack Arpey New York State

Gov. Kathy Hochul has made fighting the state’s mental health crisis a priority in this year’s budget, calling it "the defining challenge of our time."

She is proposing $4.8 billion to address serious mental illness as well as mental health issues among younger people. Advocates and lawmakers say they are encouraged but concerned about filling the positions necessary to fight the crisis, while taking care of and retaining the existing workforce.

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New York environmental advocate: 'We’re very concerned' about budget cuts to clean water funding

BY Susan Arbetter New York State

Since 2019, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and the Legislature have invested $500 million annually in clean water infrastructure, supporting drinking water and wastewater improvement as well as per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAs) remediation, among other issues.

But in her executive budget this year, Hochul added only $250 million to the funding, which has environmentalists uneasy.

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New York school leaders question Foundation Aid proposal that would alter 'Save Harmless' provision

BY Jack Arpey New York State

Gov. Kathy Hochul is proposing a $35.3 billion school aid package in her executive budget. That’s a 2.4% increase over last year, but there are fears that despite increases to Foundation Aid, as well as aid tied to expenses, education funding could be a major issue of contention this session.

A provision known as "Save Harmless"could take center stage. It ensures that districts don’t see a decrease in Foundation Aid funding compared to the previous year, but as enrollment decreases in many districts, that practice is being called into question.

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Fiscal Policy Institute wants Hochul, Legislature to make N.Y. taxes set to expire permanent

BY Susan Arbetter New York State

While advocates on the left and the right agree that something should be done about New York’s population loss, they don’t agree on how to fix the problem.

One example: The fiscally moderate Citizens Budget Commission (CBC) applauded Gov. Kathy Hochul’s decision not to raise taxes on the wealthy. The CBC’s president stated, “Wisely, the Governor did not include a broad tax increase... Holding to this, and ensuring that temporary increases sunset on time, is critically important to New York’s competitiveness.”

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Hochul budget proposal includes language to expedite up to 5 prison closures

BY Ryan Whalen Albany

Legislation proposed in Gov. Kathy Hochul's executive budget would allow New York to close up to five correctional facilities with 90 days' notice.

The state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) said the language allows the state to act "expeditiously to right-size and eliminate excess capacity," thus increasing operational efficiency.

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Upstate transit systems get boost, other road infrastructure funding numbers in Hochul's budget proposal

BY Luke Parsnow New York State

Significant investments in road and traffic infrastructure would continue under New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s executive budget proposal released Tuesday.

Her spending plan allocates $7.9 billion in state operating aid to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Upstate transit systems would receive $323 million and downstate non-MTA transit systems would get $551 million — both a 5.4% increase from last year.

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A battle over New York education funding begins after Hochul releases budget proposal

BY Susan Arbetter New York State

There will be plenty of fights over New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s executive budget, but because this is an election year, the most aggressive battle may be waged over education funding. The reason is timing: During election years, one of the ways lawmakers deliver to their constituents is via education aid.

The fight will be despite the governor’s proposed $35.3 billion school aid package for Fiscal Year 2025, which includes a 2.1% increase, or a $507 million increase, in Foundation Aid, the primary school funding formula making it the highest level of state funding in the state’s history.

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Two rural New York school superintendents discuss financial challenges

BY Susan Arbetter New York State

Most public schools in New York are funded in two ways: State aid via the out-of-date Foundation Aid formula, and local property taxes.

If you live in a rural district where the tax base is stagnant or shrinking, the school district that serves your community will end up having to rely more heavily on state aid money, which can be precarious.

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Poll: Strong majority of New Yorkers support raising taxes on wealthy

BY Luke Parsnow New York State

A strong majority of New Yorkers support raising taxes on wealthy earners and profitable corporations to fund public programs, according to a new poll commissioned by Invest in Our New York Campaign and conducted by Siena College that was released Friday.

The poll found 74% of state residents believe taxes should go up for the highest 5% of earners. About the same percentage of respondents, and 72% of upstate residents, believe raising taxes on the rich should be the solution to address any state budget shortfall rather than cutting services, according to the poll.

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New York Board of Regents wants money to study Foundation Aid formula in state aid request

BY Susan Arbetter New York State
UPDATED 7:32 PM ET Dec. 13, 2023

After last year’s record-breaking education budget, which included an additional $3.03 billion in state aid to public schools, the New York State Board of Regents on Monday requested a more down-to-earth budget increase of $1.35 billion.

Still, the request may face some strong headwinds. It’s being made while the state is facing a $4 billion-plus budget gap, and Gov. Kathy Hochul has already stated her unwillingness to hike personal income taxes on the wealthy.

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State comptroller cautions lawmakers ahead of budget season with dismal taxpayer migration report

BY Bernadette Hogan New York City

New York’s top money manager released a new report showing the state’s tax collections were negatively impacted by people leaving the state due to the pandemic — issuing a word of caution to lawmakers ahead of budget season.

State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli published a review of the data from the state Department of Taxation and Finance, comparing tax collection information between 2020 and 2021 to pre-pandemic trends.

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Hochul to New York business leaders: Employ asylum seekers

BY Seamus Lyman New York State

Gov. Kathy Hochul spoke to New York state business leaders Friday about securing employment for asylum seekers, alluring businesses to New York and tackling large budget deficits in the years ahead.

Hochul addressed the Business Council of New York State at the group’s annual retreat in Bolton Landing on Lake George. It features meetings focused on issues impacting business in the state over the next decade or more.

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How tough will New York's state budget really be?

BY Nick Reisman New York State

The scene is six months from now: Gov. Kathy Hochul is presenting a state budget that declares the days of wine and roses are once again over, the credits will have to be cut up in order to get spending under control. Taxes may have to go up to protect essential services for New Yorkers.

Or, an alternative scene: New York and the national economy is doing far better than expected at the start of 2024. Inflation has been tamed and revenue is flowing to New York to help pay for schools, health care and other major ticket items in the budget.

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For New York's budget, spending is up, but tax revenue is going down

BY Nick Reisman Albany/Capital Region

New York is starting to experience a slowdown in money flowing into the state's coffers, a decline that comes just as temporary federal pandemic aid has largely dried up, and the newly approved $229 billion budget increased spending.

Fiscal watchdogs in recent days have raised concerns with a decline in the state's main driver for revenue, the personal income tax, dropping due in part to a decline in bonuses in the financial sector on Wall Street.

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Lawmakers want to reverse New York budget's Medicaid move

BY Nick Reisman Albany/Capital Region

Republican lawmakers are trying to reverse a provision in New York's $229 billion state budget that shifted $1 billion in Medicaid funding away from county governments.

County leaders have warned that without the combined $1 billion from federal medical assistance percentage funds, they could be forced to consider property tax increases.

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New York farmers savor a victory in budget, prepare for a fight

BY Susan Arbetter New York State

While much of the conversation around farms and the New York state budget has revolved around a planned hike in the minimum wage, there is some good news for farmers. Jeff Williams, director of public policy for the New York Farm Bureau (NYFB), calls passage of a renewable investment tax credit for farmers, “wonderful."

“[The tax credit] is designed to spur investing in farms across the state, whether it’s equipment, machinery, land, buildings,” Williams said. “It’s really a watershed program.”

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Advocate for immigrants breaks down New York's budget

BY Nick Reisman Albany/Capital Region

The $229 billion state budget finalized last week could have done more to address the needs of immigrants living in the state, according to New York Immigration Coalition Executive Director Murad Awawdeh.

The budget did not provide enough of a boost in legal assistance for immigrant communities, while a proposal to allow undocumented adults living in New York the ability to access the Essential Plan for health insurance faltered in the final days of the negotiations.

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Dissecting the New York budget from both sides of the aisle and state

BY Nick Reisman and Tim Williams New York State

New York state finally has a budget — albeit a month late.

State Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt, a Republican from Western New York, and state Sen. Jabari Brisport, a self-proclaimed socialist from Brooklyn, joined Capital Tonight to discuss what made it in and what was left out of the budget.

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Farms see mixed bag in New York budget deal

BY Nick Reisman Albany/Capital Region

The $229 billion budget was ultimately a mixed result for the state's agriculture sector.

On the one hand, farm organizations are concerned about the financial effect an increase in the minimum wage and its subsequent tie to inflation. But at the same time, farmers will benefit from the funding of environmental, marketing and research programs in the final spending agreement.

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New York's budget includes funding for publicly financed campaigns

BY Nick Reisman Albany/Capital Region

A voluntary program of publicly financed campaigns will be funded as part of the state budget agreement finalized on Tuesday evening after lawmakers initially considered delaying its implementation.

The budget includes $39.5 million for New York's newly formed campaign finance system of public elections, in which campaigns can match low-dollar donations with public money.

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Inside New York's finalized $229 billion state budget

BY Nick Reisman Albany/Capital Region

State lawmakers completed a marathon day of voting to finalize a $229 billion state budget late Tuesday night that avoids broad-based increases in the personal income tax, boosts education aid to more than $34 billion and sets in motion a minimum wage increase.

The budget was completed more than a month past its April 1 due date as lawmakers and Gov. Kathy Hochul negotiated changes to the state's 2019 law that limited circumstances in which bail could be required. Hochul was able to win those changes to expand bail consideration for judges, but failed to reach an agreement on her wide-ranging housing plan.

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New York lawmakers pass late budget as final pieces come together

BY Nick Reisman Albany/Capital Region
UPDATED 11:01 PM ET May. 02, 2023

New York state lawmakers finalized the passage of a $229 billion budget Tuesday night, a month after it was initially due.

The Democratic-led houses of the state Legislature and Gov. Kathy Hochul agreed to a spending plan that will boost direct aid to schools by more than $2 billion, fund mass transit in the New York City metropolitan region, make changes to the state's bail law and raise the minimum wage in the coming years to $17 and then index it to the rate of inflation.

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Big changes to Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corporation board structure included in final budget bill

BY Ryan Whalen Albany

ALBANY, N.Y. -- Language in the final version of the New York state budget agreement makes major changes to the oft-maligned Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corporation.

The so-called "Big Ugly" bill includes a section changing the voting structure of the Western Regional OTB's board of directors. It gives more power, among the 17 municipalities that govern and share the public beneift corporation's profits, to the largest counties — Erie and Monroe — and two cities — Buffalo and Rochester.

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New York's budget will aid capital costs for SUNY, CUNY

BY Nick Reisman Albany/Capital Region

Additional money to help maintain public higher education campuses, as well as make renovations, will head to schools in the State University of New York and City University of New York systems as part of the state budget agreement.

As expected, lawmakers and Gov. Kathy Hochul agreed to a budget that does not increase tuition for in-state students.

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New York state Senate leader: Budget end in sight

BY Kate Lisa New York State

Lawmakers are expected to finish passing the state budget Tuesday for Fiscal Year 2024 — now one month late.

Senators and assemblymembers debated and voted Monday on several budget bills that were printed over the weekend. State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said the two remaining to be published will drop late Monday night or early Tuesday morning.

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New York's budget won't hike income tax rates, disappointing progressives

BY Nick Reisman Albany/Capital Region

Personal income tax rates won't increase in New York's state budget, a move that never seemed to gain much traction in the talks and a development that disappoints progressive advocates who had called for the increase.

The budget is expected to be finalized this week and is more than a month late.

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New York budget veteran: Governor and Legislature racked up wins while Hochul changed narrative

BY Susan Arbetter New York State

Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Thursday night announcement of a budget framework came as a surprise to many in Albany, but according to Shontell Smith, a veteran of budget negotiations as the former chief of staff and chief counsel to the Senate Democratic Conference, and currently executive vice president for Tusk Strategies, what happened wasn’t new or unusual.

“This is typical,” she told Capital Tonight. “We forget that…Gov. Cuomo would do it via press release, (announce) that there was a conceptual agreement amongst the leaders.”

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New York Assembly Housing Committee chair: Hochul's proposal 'can't just be done by edict'

BY Susan Arbetter New York State

Gov. Kathy Hochul’s marquee budget proposal was her New York Housing Compact, which would have created 800,000 housing units over 10 years. It was an ambitious plan that would have required each municipality in the state to meet certain growth metrics, but it never got off the ground.

The reason, according to state Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal, chair of the Assembly Housing Committee, is that the plan was missing some key elements.

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New York's budget expected to boost support for families

BY Nick Reisman Albany/Capital Region

Federal aid during the pandemic expanded tax credits for families with young children and provided free breakfast and lunch to students in schools.

With that aid expired, the state budget could step in to partially fill the void of what advocates have contended were beneficial programs for families struggling with the cost of living.

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Once again, New York's bail law is set to change

BY Nick Reisman Albany/Capital Region

For the third time in the last four years, New York's law for when cash bail is required in criminal cases is set to change, an amendment driven by ongoing concerns over crime and public safety registered by voters, but opposed by the progressive supporters of a 2019 law.

An agreement in the tentative state budget deal announced Thursday by Gov. Kathy Hochul will end the so-called "least restrictive" restrictive standard when bail is being considered by judges in serious criminal cases and give them more discretion when considering bail.

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New York budget deal includes bail changes, minimum wage increases and school meals

BY Nick Reisman New York State
UPDATED 8:17 PM ET Apr. 27, 2023

Nearly a month after its initial due date, New York state lawmakers and Gov. Kathy Hochul have agreed to a $229 billion state spending plan that will make changes to a controversial bail law, boost direct aid to schools by billions of dollars and keep personal income tax rates the same.

"A conceptual agreement has been reached," Hochul said at a press conference Thursday evening.

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Tentative deal would raise Medicaid spending for New York hospitals, nursing homes

BY Nick Reisman Albany/Capital Region

Hospitals and nursing homes in New York could receive a higher reimbursement rate under a tentative agreement in the state budget.

But a broader deal for a state spending plan was not finalized on Thursday, and state lawmakers have left Albany for the next several days as issues addressing climate change are yet to be locked down.

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Source: New York lawmakers have agreement to expand child tax credit

BY Nick Reisman Albany/Capital Region

New York lawmakers have reached an agreement with Gov. Kathy Hochul to expand the child tax credit in the state to include children under the age of 4, a source familiar with the talks on Thursday said.

Expanding the tax credit is expected to be included in a finalized budget agreement, which could be struck this week.

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Too much policy in the New York state budget? Then don’t vote on it, policy expert advises lawmakers

BY Susan Arbetter New York State

The New York state budget is 26 days late. The reason, according to several lawmakers, is that Gov. Kathy Hochul packed her executive budget proposal full of policies, like her Housing Compact, bail reform, charter schools and the minimum wage — and each issue is taking time to negotiate.

This isn’t unusual; former Gov. Andrew Cuomo did the same thing.

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A $17 minimum wage faces criticism in potential New York budget deal

BY Nick Reisman Albany/Capital Region

A tentative agreement to raise New York's minimum wage to as much as $17 in the coming years has drawn critics from both sides of the aisle.

Progressive Democrats, labor union organizations and advocates are holding out for a $21.25 proposal initially made earlier this year in order to support low-income New Yorkers. Republicans and leading business groups argue the wage hike, which is also expected to be tied to inflation, will hurt job creation and drive up costs further.

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Republican lawmakers: Give New Yorkers time to read budget

BY Nick Reisman Albany/Capital Region

Republicans in the state Senate and Assembly Wednesday urged Gov. Kathy Hochul to allow for ample time to review any finalized state budget agreement and not rush the process when a deal is finally struck.

"There's a lot in there," said state Sen. Tom O'Mara. "There will be a lot in there. There's a lot unknown."

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New deadline could push New York's budget to a month late

BY Nick Reisman Albany/Capital Region

New York state lawmakers and Gov. Kathy Hochul must have either a finalized budget agreement in place or approve a sixth temporary extension of state spending by next Tuesday in order to avoid disrupting state employees paychecks on May 4, state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli in a letter said Wednesday.

Institutional payroll for thousands of state workers is scheduled for May 4, DiNapoli wrote in the letter.

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Upstate mayors call for higher Medicaid spending for nursing homes, hospitals

BY Nick Reisman Albany/Capital Region

Mayors from a half dozen upstate cities on Wednesday signed onto a letter released by a powerful health care workers union urging Gov. Kathy Hochul to increase Medicaid support for hospitals and nursing homes as part of the state budget.

The letter was facilitated by 1199SEIU, a key health care worker labor organization that has called for higher Medicaid reimbursement rates in the yet-to-be-finalized state budget, now more than three weeks late.

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Hochul on housing stalemate: 'This is the beginning of a journey'

BY Kate Lisa New York State

Gov. Kathy Hochul is committed to working on how to address the state's housing crises after she and legislative leaders could not overcome their impasse on the complex issue and make corresponding investments and policy changes in the next state budget.

"We're going to go back," Hochul told reporters Tuesday in wake of divided housing negotiations. "This is just the beginning of a journey. We're going to work on this until we solve this."

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Hochul: New York budget offers 'window' to address illegal cannabis

BY Nick Reisman Albany/Capital Region

Gov. Kathy Hochul wants to use the state budget process to address the proliferation of unregulated and illegal sales of cannabis that she worries could hinder the growth of the legal marketplace.

Lawmakers and Hochul are working to finalize a budget this week, but the discussion surrounding enforcement of illegal cannabis in the state has created a snag in the budget negotiations with the spending plan now more than a month late.

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Discontent among progressives swirl over $17 New York minimum wage plan

BY Nick Reisman Albany/Capital Region

Progressive advocates and lawmakers on Tuesday criticized a tentative plan to increase New York's minimum wage to $17 an hour for not going far enough to cover basic expenses of low-income working people.

The proposal would gradually increase the state's wage in the coming years, a provision that is coming together as lawmakers and Gov. Kathy Hochul hope to finalize a budget this week.

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Hochul says New York state budget will wrap soon

BY Nick Reisman New York State

New York’s state budget, now nearly a month late, could be closing in on a final agreement in the coming days, Gov. Kathy Hochul said on Tuesday.

Hochul, addressing reporters in Albany, said she was optimistic a plan can be in place by the end of the week.

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Lawmaker doesn't expect streaming tax to be included in New York budget

BY Ryan Whalen Tonawanda

TONAWANDA, N.Y. -- Democratic leadership in the New York state Assembly is proposing a 4% state and 4% local sales tax on digital streaming products, excluding newspapers and periodicals.

However, Assemblyman Bill Conrad, D-Tonawanda, said the plan does not have support from the entire conference, including himself.

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New York Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt discusses late state budget, judicial nominations

BY Susan Arbetter New York State

Democrats have supermajorities in both houses of the New York state Legislature, which is why some people are scratching their heads over the fact that New York has the latest state budget in 13 years.

Capital Tonight spoke with Senate Minority Leader Robert Ortt about how he views budget-making in Albany, as well as possible changes to how Court of Appeals judges are selected.

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New York Senate leader 'has to have tenant protections' in budget

BY Kate Lisa New York State
UPDATED 9:23 PM ET Apr. 19, 2023

New York state Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins says Democrats in the upper house will stand firm to include tenant protections in the final state budget, which is 19 days late.

Budget negotiations broke down this week as the governor and legislative leaders discussed how to fund affordable housing programs and incentives.

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New York budget stuck in neutral, and so is tax talk

BY Nick Reisman Albany/Capital Region

It’s a state budget that’s stuck in neutral. And for now, top Democrats and Gov. Kathy Hochul are not discussing the key topic of whether tax rates for upper income New Yorkers should increase.

"We in our one-house [budget proposal] talked about that possibility," Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said Wednesday. "But it’s not at the table right now."

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No deal expected on New York's budget this week

BY Nick Reisman Albany/Capital Region

An agreement on the state budget is not expected this week as a range of issues from housing policy to charter school and mass transit funding in New York remain under discussion, state Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins on Wednesday said.

"This is the most laden budget I have had to deal with," Stewart-Cousins told reporters at a weekly news conference.

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New York Assembly Speaker Heastie: Budget deal 'not close'

BY Kate Lisa New York State

New York legislative leaders and Gov. Kathy Hochul aren't close to reaching a state budget deal as they continue to clash on housing, bail reform and other issues with the spending plan 18 days late, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said Tuesday.

A compromise on proposed changes to the state's bail laws and housing started to take shape, but remain uncertain after a meeting between leaders and Hochul on Tuesday. The top state officials exited the meeting without taking questions from reporters.

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Hochul: Incentives alone won't solve housing problems

BY Nick Reisman and Zack Fink Albany/Capital Region

Incentives to significantly expand available housing in New York and make it more affordable will not be enough, Gov. Kathy Hochul said Tuesday in a statement as her proposals face headwinds in the ongoing budget negotiations.

Sources on Tuesday said lawmakers were jettisoning key provisions in Hochul's initial statewide housing proposal this year, including fast-tracking qualified housing projects over local objections.

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New York lawmakers approve 3-day budget extension as bail negotiations advance

BY Nick Reisman Albany/Capital Region

New York lawmakers and Gov. Kathy Hochul agreed Monday to a 3-day temporary extension of state funding as an overhaul deal remains up in the air, but progress made on key issues.

Meanwhile, lawmakers and Hochul have made progress on making changes to New York's law that curtailed cash bail requirements for many criminal charges by jettisoning a proposal that would have ended the "least restrictive" standard for serious charges.

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Beyond bail, more criminal justice changes are considered in New York budget talks

BY Nick Reisman Albany/Capital Region

Changes to New York’s controversial bail law have dominated the budget talks. But behind the scenes, further changes to the state’s criminal justice system could be made as part of a final spending plan that is now more than two weeks past its due date.

Lawmakers are weighing with Gov. Kathy Hochul whether to make further changes to the state's discovery law first approved four years ago as a way of accelerating access to evidence for criminal defendants.

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New York lawmakers have Tuesday deadline to pay state workers as budget talks continue

BY Nick Reisman Albany/Capital Region

New York lawmakers are facing a Tuesday noon deadline to approve a short-term spending measure if no budget deal is in place by then, state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli on Friday told top legislative leaders.

A budget extender must be in place by that time to ensure more than 50,000 state workers receive paychecks by Thursday, April 20.

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