Senator Chan Delivers Remarks on State Budget

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, May 8th, 2025

Albany, NY – On May 8, 2025, the state senate held a floor vote on S3006C. The bill is a major component of the state's 2025-2026 budget process that was necessary to implement the state education, labor, housing, and family assistance budget for the fiscal year. The state budget, which had already been delayed well past its initial deadline on April 1st, was finally passed a month and a week late on May 8th. 

Senator Chan voted against the enactment of Senate Bill S3006C on the basis that the bill did not go far enough in helping New Yorkers. During his debate session, Senator Chan said that although he "admired[d] some of the aspects and ideas of the bill," there were "a lot of components that [he doesn't] like."

Among some of the proposals that the Senator did not agree on was the topic of foundation aid. 
 

The governor, first of all, has proposed over $593. 5 million for foundation aid to the city of New York. The enacted amount ended up at $54. 7 million less at $538. 8 million. This is at a time when New York City has an unprecedented rise in English learners and underprivileged children

Foundation Aid is the primary way New York State funds its public schools. With it being cut, that would undoubtedly mean less state funding for school districts. Senator Chan goes on to further explain that his cut would mean "enriching programs such as art and music, and our students will be deprived of a lot of services. 

Continuing on the topic of schools and education, Senator Chan also disagreed with the 100% electric school bus mandate, pointing out the foreseeable problem of having many buses break down and having problems charging. 

On the issue of public safety, Senator Chan pointed to his history and experience as a police officer for 27 years. He noted that the new discovery laws and mask ban do "absolutely nothing to help our cops out" in "preventing crime and addressing our quality of life issues." 

Concluding, Senator Chan noted that his decision was made with his constituents in mind, and "on behalf of the people of New York State Senate district 17 in South Brooklyn, I vote no."

For more information: 
CONTACT:
The Office of Senator Stephen T. Chan
Phone: (718) 333-0311
Email: Chan@NYsenate.gov