By Hank Russell
New York State Assembly members Keith Brown and Ed Ra criticized the state Legislature for passing another budget extender while state elected officials once again missed the April 1 deadline to approve the proposed $233 billon budget.
Governor Kathy Hochul announced on March 27 that, because of the approaching holiday season, she issued the first budget extender that lasted until April 4. “For weeks, I have been negotiating with the Legislature to craft a budget that makes record investments for New Yorkers while putting the State on a fiscally stable path into the future,” she said in a statement. “Working together, I am confident we can deliver a budget that increases the housing supply, invests in schools and health care, and makes New York safer for all.”
This past weekend, the Assembly passed another extender which was approved by the Senate on April 8. The two extenders were passed because both sides of the aisle were in a stalemate over housing and zoning laws, money for the Foundation Aid formula for school funding and providing funds for childcare.
“We are accustomed to passing budget bills in the dark of night—why we can’t be in session Monday because of the eclipse is astronomically out of this world,” Ra (R-Franklin Square) said. “While everyone else is looking up at the eclipse, our heads should be down and focused on getting a final budget finished. Our school districts, local governments and residents are in the dark not because of the eclipse, but because of the governor’s and legislative majority’s inability to get a budget done on time.
Brown (R,C-Northport) reminded residents that, for the third year in a row, the budget deadline will be missed. “New Yorkers will not tolerate a repeat of last year’s extreme delay in state budget proceedings—residents, municipalities and school districts were expecting the budget to pass a week ago, but already, the extenders are starting to stack up,” he said. “Our state needs to finalize and pass the budget now so school districts and municipalities can plan ahead. School districts have already begun the process of completing their budgets and we cannot continue to prolong state budget negotiations. No more excuses—it is time to pass the budget.”
Negotiations will resume later this week. Assembly Majority Leader Carl Heastie (D-Bronx) recently told reporters that they are “in the same neighborhood” but “not in the same lot yet” when it comes to negotiations.
“I’m hoping the light of the final budget will shine this week and we can engage in constructive debates over the final details,” said Ra.