Op-Ed by Assemblyman Joseph DeStefano
I am deeply frustrated over the ongoing failure of the governor and legislative leaders to produce an on-time, responsible state budget. These repeated delays not only erode public trust, but also leave local governments, school districts, and hardworking taxpayers across Long Island in a constant state of uncertainty.
Every day without a finalized budget puts essential services and critical funding at risk. From school aid and local infrastructure improvements to public safety initiatives and vital health care programs, the consequences of this dysfunction are real, immediate, and far-reaching.
New Yorkers deserve better. They deserve a government that meets its deadlines and makes thoughtful, transparent decisions—not one that lurches forward week by week through temporary fixes.
Even more troubling was the governor’s premature press release touting a so-called budget deal—announced from behind closed doors. She cited a $254 billion spending plan—$15 billion more than last year, and nearly $100 billion more than a decade ago. That’s nearly double the size of Florida’s spending, despite it having a larger population and no state income tax.
New York families already shoulder the highest tax burden in the nation. It’s time the Democrat one-party rule in Albany recognizes that and finally gives our taxpayers the relief they’ve long deserved.