NYS Lawmakers pass $220-billion budget nine days late

Albany, WRGB — Reaction from lawmakers and organizations is pouring in now that both the NYS Senate and Assembly have passed the 2022-23 budget.

MORE: Hochul pledges help for middle class in new budget deal

The Assembly wrapped up around 9:30 Saturday morning after the Senate finished just before 5:00 AM.

The $220 billion state budget passed nine days late.

MORE: Budget agreement in concept reacheed, includes bail law changes

Immediate reaction from lawmakers started pouring in.

Democrat Asssemblyman John McDonald tweeted,

That’s a wrap folks! NYS Budget is official for 2022-23. A budget that serves all New Yorkers. The house is adjourned at 9:30 am!

Republican Assemblyman Chris Tague offered up his criticism of the budget.

While headlines following this budget’s passage will likely sing the praises of the governor’s purported bail reform ‘fix’, the sad truth of the matter is that these changes won’t restore law and order on our streets,” said Tague. “That’s something of a theme in this budget, while there are helpful proposals within it, we could’ve seized this moment to do so much more for the residents, farmers, and small business owners of this state. People are struggling to make ends meet, and no longer feel safe in the neighborhoods where they live. New Yorkers were counting on us to take decisive action, but instead, the governor and her Democrat colleagues were only able to offer them half-measures.

Washington County District Attorney, J. Anthony Jordan, who is also President of the District Attorneys Association of the State of New York, sent a statement saying this year’s budget demonstrates a willingness towards finding solutions to protect victims and to ensure the safety of all of New York State’s businesses, residents, and visitors.

Today the Governor and Legislature have taken another step in addressing the complexities of discovery exchange and the burdens placed on prosecutors’ offices," said Jordan. This budget has finally provided some relief for counties outside of New York City to comply with the discovery law and has allocated the first state expenditure of funds for future costs associated with discovery. I thank the Governor and our lawmakers for listening to the needs of district attorneys for more staff and more resources. I look forward to continued conversations about additional funding for discovery costs.

Republican Senator Peter Oberacker says he voted against nine of the ten separate bills that comprise the state budget.

The ultimate in Albany double-dealing has just finished playing out at the Capitol, Oberacker said. "A budget that spends at a record rate, checks in more than a week late, and was cobbled together in total secrecy is now complete. Last minute additions, headlined by sham bail reform changes that fail to improve public safety and a multi-million-dollar football stadium handout, are prime examples of misplaced priorities

Democrat Assemblymember Phil Steck says after listening to the opinions of his constituents, he voted no on two aspects of the budget.

First, I voted against giving preferences in cannabis distribution license applications to persons with marijuana convictions," said Steck. "While persons with such convictions should not be discriminated against in the cannabis licensure process, we most certainly should not discriminate against those who followed the law as it formerly existed, which this bill unfortunately does. Second, I voted against the Governor’s plan for funding the new Buffalo Bills stadium. My colleagues from Western New York powerfully advocated for the importance of keeping the Bills in Buffalo. Nevertheless, the degree of State support in this budget is excessive, and I believe a better deal could have been struck. Instead, the Governor chose to go it alone without even consulting with the legislature, which would make more sense in a deal of this magnitude

Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie says the 2022-23 Budget makes critical investments in programs that will help New York families to meet the challenge of inflation and rising gas prices. His office sent these points:

Tax Relief

The budget includes critical tax credits and rebates to help New York families. It accelerates the phase-in of the middle class tax cut from 2025 to 2023, which will save New York families $162 million in SFY 2022-23 and $615 in SFY 2023-24. The budget also provides critical tax credits, including:

A one year property tax rebate credit for households that are eligible for STAR and Enhanced STAR and have incomes below $250,000;

Supplemental earned income tax credit (EITC) to taxpayers equal to 25 percent of their 2021 EITC benefit, which would be an average of $190 per taxpayer; and

Supplemental Empire State Child Credit for families with children over the age of four and would be calculated based on the taxpayers' 2021 Empire State Tax Credit.

With gas prices soaring, the budget includes a 16 cent per gallon gas tax holiday that will last from June 1 through December 31, 2022. This provision would also allow counties to cap their sales tax at $4 per gallon.

Childcare

Access to quality, affordable childcare became especially difficult during the pandemic, forcing parents, and especially mothers to leave the workforce. The SFY 2022-23 Budget makes critical investments in childcare to help make it more affordable for New York families by increasing eligibility for subsidies up to 300 percent of the federal poverty level. It would also increase market rate reimbursement at 80 percent and would provide stabilization grants including funds for wages and other provider needs. The budget includes a five year property tax abatement for property owners that expanded or created a new child care center in New York City.

Education

An investment in children’s education is an investment in the future of New York. This year’s budget includes an historic $31.2 billion in School Aid, and $21.3 billion in Foundation Aid. It also includes $1.1 billion for Universal Prekindergarten.

Higher Education

Higher education is a critical rung on the ladder to a successful future. The enacted budget makes a final payment to double the state’s investment in opportunity programs, providing approximately $100 million in expended funding since 2015. The SFY 2022-23 Budget provides $203 million, a $6 million increase, to opportunity programs across the board, $24 million over the SFY 2021-22 Budget.

Rental & Housing Arrears

Many New Yorkers were unable to pay their rent or their mortgage as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This budget makes critical investments in rent and homeownership relief to help New Yorkers stay in their homes, including $1.1 billion in funding for the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) and the Landlord Rental Assistance Program (LRAP), as well as $250 million for a utility arrears program, to be administered by the Department of Public Service.

Hospitals

New York State’s health care system and hospitals have been at the front line of the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The enacted budget makes critical investments in the hospitals that New Yorkers rely on by adding an additional $800 million for distressed hospitals, for a total of $1.15 billion. It also includes $1.6 billion for capital projects.