By Will Barclay
While this is good news, it certainly does not mean New York is out of the woods yet. We still have some serious structural spending problems, and our financial outlook for the coming three years includes a potential $14.3 billion budget gap. Our work is not done.
Medicaid is one of the primary contributors driving up state spending. In order to prevent exceeding the Medicaid Global Cap, the state will have to pull more than $1 billion out of its General Fund. That is an enormous sum, and doing so year after year is unsustainable. Therefore, addressing Medicaid must be a top priority during the upcoming budget process.
There are other problems that need to be addressed as well. While the Medicaid issue is relatively complex, other spending-related problems can be corrected by reprioritizing our financial goals. Over the last five years, overall state spending has increased by $67 billion. We’ve already spent billions of dollars supporting illegal migrants, and that will grow to total $4.3 billion through Fiscal Year 2026. We simply cannot afford to indefinitely support migrants, especially considering how inefficiently the state has administered such aid. At the very least, we should be investing what we do spend in child care, infrastructure and public safety—all things that truly enhance the quality of life in our communities.
The Assembly Minority Conference has consistently advocated for an economic approach emphasizing lean spending, minimal taxes and policies that promote organic economic growth. The good news is that economic activity in the state is showing signs of life. The fear, though, is that this will be perceived as an excuse to spend more money. This should not be the case. Also, considering this progress, there should be no talk of any tax increases as we begin planning the upcoming budget. We do not have a revenue problem in New York state, we have a spending problem.
Let’s build upon this positive outlook by going back to basic economics. Our economic success depends on our ability to keep costs as low as possible; the less we spend, the less we need New York taxpayers to contribute. We have a chance to naturally reduce an impending budget deficit, and I hope that goal resonates with members from every region in New York.
Will Barclay (R,C,I-Pulaski) is the Assembly Minority Leader.