Budget season is in full swing in Albany where members of the Senate and Assembly are carefully reviewing Governor Hochul’s record setting $260 billion spending proposal for the fiscal year that starts on April first. As day-long hearings and face-to-face negotiations continue over the next several weeks, the legislature must prioritize fiscal responsibility, affordability, and safety on behalf of New York taxpayers and businesses.

The governor’s budget proposal reflects a $6 billion increase over the current budget, a trend that has become all too familiar in Albany. Since 2019, the budget has ballooned by $92 billion, a 54-percent increase. By comparison, New York’s budget is more than double Florida’s budget ($119 billion) and is nearly equal to the budgets of Florda and Texas combined ($268 billion). This level of spending is irresponsible and unsustainable. If the legislature is serious about making New York more affordable, it must reduce the size and cost of government by cutting spending. A good place to start is to adopt legislation (S.1296) which I co-sponsor that would impose a spending cap on the state budget and limit future spending. 

In recent days, the governor has also proposed a $1.5 billion bailout for New York City. The city’s financial difficulties suggest it too has a spending problem and needs to practice fiscal restraint. A bailout is unfair to the rest of the state, and I urge the legislature to reject it.

The proposed budget, unfortunately, does little to lower personal income tax or property taxes for New Yorkers. While I support plans to eliminate the tax on tips and to expand the child tax credit, they do not go far enough to address the overall tax burden residents face, which is among the highest in the nation. My colleagues in the Senator Minority Conference have introduced several bills that would provide additional tax relief for individuals, families, and businesses.

Rising energy costs are also a concern with electricity rates about 50-percent higher than the national average, in part because of policies imposed by the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. The governor’s budget proposal does not include any initiatives to reduce energy costs. However, I am proud to co-sponsor a legislative package that would repeal many of these costly mandates, including the All-Electric Buildings Act and the electric vehicle mandate. Including these proposals in the new budget would help ratepayers across the state.    

In terms of public safety, I am disappointed that the governor did not include desperately needed reforms in our criminal justice laws, including changes in bail, discovery, parole, and Raise the Age. The budget also fails to address the crisis in our prison system, where National Guard members continue to work alongside understaffed correction officers. 

In the weeks ahead, I will continue to work with my Senate colleagues to amend the governor’s proposal and to adopt a budget that works for all New Yorkers and begins to solve some of the challenges our residents, businesses, and communities face.