Skelos, Klein, Silver Announce Joint Legislative Budget Schedule

Senate Majority Coalition Co-Leaders Dean G. Skelos and Jeff Klein and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver today announced an agreement on a joint legislative budget schedule that sets deadlines that lead to the earliest adoption of a state budget in two decades.

“This schedule sets out a plan to adopt a new budget on March 21st, the earliest budget since 1983, and 10 days prior to the April 1st deadline,” Senator Skelos said.  “Public budget hearings are well underway, the review of the proposed Executive Budget has begun, and the Senate Majority Coalition is ready to work together with the Assembly and Governor to enact a fiscally responsible state budget.”
 
“After the current joint legislative budget hearings complete their review of the executive’s budget, the schedule we announce today will be helpful toward our next objective in the budget process, adopting a timely budget,” said Silver (D-Manhattan).  “I and my Assembly colleagues look forward to reaching a budget agreement that is prudent, fiscally responsible and one that meets the needs of people across the state.”

“This joint schedule demonstrates the legislature’s commitment to delivering another responsible and on-time state budget. New Yorkers deserve nothing less. Working with Governor Cuomo, our two houses are on track to complete a comprehensive budget plan ahead of schedule,” Senate Majority Coalition Co-Leader Senator Jeff Klein (D-Bronx) said.

"The legislative budget schedule sets the dates for each step of an open and transparent process, which will be followed by the legislature to deliver a responsible and early budget again this year," said State Senator John A. DeFrancisco (R-C-I, Syracuse), Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.

“This schedule provides an opportunity for legislators and the public to take part in the budget making process, and identifies the steps both houses will follow to reach a budget agreement that invests in its people and provides the state with fiscal stability,” said Assemblyman Herman D. Farrell (D-Manhattan).

“We know that the people of New York benefit from an inclusive and open budget process. By releasing this schedule today, we are encouraging New Yorkers to follow the process and hold us accountable for the results that they demand. I am confident that by working in a cooperative and bipartisan way, we can once again deliver a smart, on-time state budget,” said State Senator Malcolm Smith (D-Queens), Vice Chair of the Senate Finance Committee.

The agreed-to legislative budget schedule for 2013 is as follows:

On or before
February 27 Senate/Assembly Fiscal Committee Economic & Revenue Reports Released
February 28 Joint Revenue Forecasting Conference
March 1 Revenue Consensus Report
March  11         Senate & Assembly budget actions
March 11     Joint Senate/Assembly budget conference committees commence
March 14       Final Report of Joint Conference Committee  
March 18-21 Joint Legislative budget bills taken up by Senate & Assembly