Legislators still haven’t seen the full details, but that didn’t stop Gov. Kathy Hochul from touting the perks she and state leaders packed into New York’s upcoming budget.
Among the sweeteners: a $200 taxpayer rebate and increased school aid—floated by Hochul as distractions from the sting of a record $254 billion spending plan. That’s $15 billion more than last year and a staggering $100 billion more than a decade ago—double the size of Florida’s budget despite its larger population and lack of a state income tax.
A month overdue, Hochul and the Democratic leaders of the Assembly and Senate are still finalizing the budget behind closed doors. In typical Albany fashion, lawmakers will be asked to vote on the massive package of bills with little time to review them. Tucked inside are sweeping policy proposals, including a ban on cell phones in schools and changes to the criminal justice system.
“The governor’s budget announcement was premature,” declared Senator Dean Murray. “None of the details have been shared with the Legislature. By the time we see it, it’ll be billions more than last year. They’re going to keep spending like drunken sailors.”
Hochul’s plan includes $1 billion for climate initiatives and full funding for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority—a sprawling agency long criticized for waste and mismanagement.
“We haven’t seen it yet, but I just know there’s going to be a payroll tax hike to bail out the MTA,” Murray added.
Assemblyman Joseph DeStefano called the proposed rebate gimmicky and wasteful. “Instead of spending millions to produce taxpayer rebate checks, the state should give taxpayers a break by cutting spending,” he said. “Another idea would be to cover the federal unemployment insurance surcharge instead of passing it on to business owners. This would lower prices for consumers far beyond the paltry $200 rebates checks Hochul is planning to give out.”
The governor also promised $1 billion in tax cuts for middle- and low-income families, expanded access to child care, $340 million for universal free school meals, and an increase to the Child Tax Credit. Notably absent were details on new spending for illegal immigrants, on top of the $2 billion the sanctuary state spent last year.