Albany state budget negotiations continue amid delays - Newsday
ALBANY — Despite Gov. Kathy Hochul’s announcement Monday of a "general agreement" on a state budget that is nearly a month late, Democratic legislators said Tuesday that negotiations will continue this week before a deal is final.
"It appears we are approaching the end ... but we’re not there yet," said Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins on Tuesday afternoon.
The Yonkers Democrat said negotiations alone could take several more days. Although it appears most of the unfinished business being negotiated behind closed doors is minor, at least one issue is significant and could be particularly thorny.
Stewart-Cousins confirmed that an unresolved item is proposed changes to the formula for foundation aid for schools. That is the single largest source of funding for education and helps determine how much aid goes to specific school districts.
Traditionally, converting handshake agreement on a budget takes several days to be turned into precise bill text. Rank-and-file members said that could mean the State Legislature won’t complete voting on the huge budget bills packed with spending and policy provisions until the weekend, or early next week.
"I do believe it will be in the next few days we’ll be able to start to vote," Stewart-Cousins said. She confirmed the items that Hochul on Monday said were in the general agreement are substantially complete.
The budget will go down as one of the latest budget approvals in Albany’s long history of late budgets.
On Tuesday, the Legislature had to pass Hochul’s ninth emergency spending measure to keep the state running without a budget.
"This is no way to run a government," said Assemb. Ed Ra (R-Garden City South).
On Monday evening, Hochul said the "general agreement" on the state budget includes $1 billion to combat climate change, some modest hedges against what may be hard economic times ahead, and many of her public safety and affordability proposals.
"I know what the priorities of New Yorkers are," Hochul said Tuesday at another news conference. "This is government at its best."
For example, Hochul and legislators agreed to give prosecutors more leeway on evidence requirements in criminal trials. Known as "discovery," the issue deals with how quickly district attorneys must produce and share evidence with defense attorneys and what the penalties are for failing to do so. Prosecutors complained that a 2019 reform, which placed deadlines on compliance, was too strict and triggered too many case dismissals. State data showed the problem was almost entirely focused in New York City.
Hochul said the budget also will include $1 billion to help the state confront climate change, including continuing to develop wind power and making Long Island, New York City and other parts of the state more reliant against severe storms.
She provided few details. Her original budget proposal in January included creating renewable energy jobs, cutting energy costs and developing a plan to advance nuclear energy.
Jackie Bray, a top aide for Hochul, said the $1 billion will go toward a "full transition" to renewable energy in coming years.
"These are investments that will help us into the future," Bray said Monday.
Hochul’s general agreement was met with some criticism for its increased spending despite President Donald Trump’s threats to cut billions of dollars in federal aid and the warnings of a looming recession.
"The month-late state general budget agreement fails to address the imminent threat facing New York: looming federal budget cuts," said Andrew Rein of the independent Citizens Budget Commission. "Instead of shoring up the state’s fiscal foundation, lawmakers are dramatically increasing spending the state cannot afford in the long run."
Under the general agreement, spending would increase another $2 billion compared with Hochul’s January budget proposal.
Hochul said the budget has, however, been scaled back in recent weeks by $400 million because of the economic concerns. The cuts even impacts Hochul’s centerpiece "affordability agenda."
She said Monday her idea for one-time tax rebate checks will still go to 8.2 million New Yorkers, but at a reduced amount. She said $400 checks will go to most middle-class families that file jointly and $200 checks will go to single filers. That’s down from her original proposal of $500 checks to join filers and $300 for single filers.
The checks will total $2 billion and are expected to be sent to New Yorkers in the fall.
Hochul said the budget also will reduce the tax rate for middle class families to its lowest level in nearly 70 years. She said legislative leaders also agreed to her proposed tripling of the child tax credit to a credit on income tax returns of $1,000 per child under 4 years old.
In all, she said most middle-class households will see a benefit of nearly $5,000 this year.
"We developed a budget that will lift all New Yorkers," Hochul said Monday.
With Yancey Roy
ALBANY — Despite Gov. Kathy Hochul’s announcement Monday of a "general agreement" on a state budget that is nearly a month late, Democratic legislators said Tuesday that negotiations will continue this week before a deal is final.
"It appears we are approaching the end ... but we’re not there yet," said Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins on Tuesday afternoon.
The Yonkers Democrat said negotiations alone could take several more days. Although it appears most of the unfinished business being negotiated behind closed doors is minor, at least one issue is significant and could be particularly thorny.
Stewart-Cousins confirmed that an unresolved item is proposed changes to the formula for foundation aid for schools. That is the single largest source of funding for education and helps determine how much aid goes to specific school districts.
Traditionally, converting handshake agreement on a budget takes several days to be turned into precise bill text. Rank-and-file members said that could mean the State Legislature won’t complete voting on the huge budget bills packed with spending and policy provisions until the weekend, or early next week.
"I do believe it will be in the next few days we’ll be able to start to vote," Stewart-Cousins said. She confirmed the items that Hochul on Monday said were in the general agreement are substantially complete.
The budget will go down as one of the latest budget approvals in Albany’s long history of late budgets.
On Tuesday, the Legislature had to pass Hochul’s ninth emergency spending measure to keep the state running without a budget.
"This is no way to run a government," said Assemb. Ed Ra (R-Garden City South).
On Monday evening, Hochul said the "general agreement" on the state budget includes $1 billion to combat climate change, some modest hedges against what may be hard economic times ahead, and many of her public safety and affordability proposals.
"I know what the priorities of New Yorkers are," Hochul said Tuesday at another news conference. "This is government at its best."
For example, Hochul and legislators agreed to give prosecutors more leeway on evidence requirements in criminal trials. Known as "discovery," the issue deals with how quickly district attorneys must produce and share evidence with defense attorneys and what the penalties are for failing to do so. Prosecutors complained that a 2019 reform, which placed deadlines on compliance, was too strict and triggered too many case dismissals. State data showed the problem was almost entirely focused in New York City.
Hochul said the budget also will include $1 billion to help the state confront climate change, including continuing to develop wind power and making Long Island, New York City and other parts of the state more reliant against severe storms.
She provided few details. Her original budget proposal in January included creating renewable energy jobs, cutting energy costs and developing a plan to advance nuclear energy.
Jackie Bray, a top aide for Hochul, said the $1 billion will go toward a "full transition" to renewable energy in coming years.
"These are investments that will help us into the future," Bray said Monday.
Hochul’s general agreement was met with some criticism for its increased spending despite President Donald Trump’s threats to cut billions of dollars in federal aid and the warnings of a looming recession.
"The month-late state general budget agreement fails to address the imminent threat facing New York: looming federal budget cuts," said Andrew Rein of the independent Citizens Budget Commission. "Instead of shoring up the state’s fiscal foundation, lawmakers are dramatically increasing spending the state cannot afford in the long run."
Under the general agreement, spending would increase another $2 billion compared with Hochul’s January budget proposal.
Hochul said the budget has, however, been scaled back in recent weeks by $400 million because of the economic concerns. The cuts even impacts Hochul’s centerpiece "affordability agenda."
She said Monday her idea for one-time tax rebate checks will still go to 8.2 million New Yorkers, but at a reduced amount. She said $400 checks will go to most middle-class families that file jointly and $200 checks will go to single filers. That’s down from her original proposal of $500 checks to join filers and $300 for single filers.
The checks will total $2 billion and are expected to be sent to New Yorkers in the fall.
Hochul said the budget also will reduce the tax rate for middle class families to its lowest level in nearly 70 years. She said legislative leaders also agreed to her proposed tripling of the child tax credit to a credit on income tax returns of $1,000 per child under 4 years old.
In all, she said most middle-class households will see a benefit of nearly $5,000 this year.
"We developed a budget that will lift all New Yorkers," Hochul said Monday.
With Yancey Roy
