By Hank Russell
As the state Legislature passed its fifth budget extender since missing the April 1 deadline to approve the budget, some Republican politicians are blasting the Democrat-controlled chamber for failing to hammer out a deal, which will greatly affect area schools, as well as local municipalities, and other nonprofit groups and service providers who rely on state funding in order to operate.
As previously reported in Long Island Life & Politics, state legislators failed to meet the April 1 deadline to pass Governor Kathy Hochul’s proposed budget, which had a price tag of $252 billion once it was to be voted on. Instead, in order to keep the state going, a $1.7 billion budget extender was issued until April 3.
LILP also reported that the blame was being placed on Hochul by progressive organizations and elected officials was not over spending but her vow to repeal the state’s current discovery laws. Another point of contention in the budget was Hochul’s support of changing the way the mentally ill are dealt with. She, along with 36 state elected officials, signed a letter and sent it to Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (D-Bronx) and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D-Mount Vernon) asking them to support Hochul’s plan to involuntary commit a mentally ill person who may be a danger to themselves or others. This proposal has been opposed by the Mental Health Association in New York State and The Alliance For Rights and Recovery.
“The Legislature may have bought itself more time today, but for those across New York trying to finalize their own budgets, that time is running out,” said Assemblyman Ed Ra (R-Franklin Square), ranking GOP member of the Assembly Ways & Means Committee, said of the extender.
In a recent video message he posted to Facebook, state Senator Steven Rhoads (R-Bellmore) said of the budget process, “Once again, Albany has failed to deliver.” He said that open, transparent meetings with the budget subcommittees are being replaced with “closed door meetings excusing the Assembly and Senate [minorities] and the general public.”
Ra said the schools need to know by April 22 what is exactly going to the state budget. “Without knowing what’s in the final state budget, school districts can’t plan their own,” he said. “It leaves hiring, investments in schools and other projects up in the air. That leaves school administrations stuck in a holding pattern when they should be preparing for the year ahead.”
But it impacts more than just schools, Ra said. “This uncertainty impacts municipalities, nonprofits and service providers—anyone whose fiscal year and planning depends on knowing what resources they’ll have. The state budget sends a signal, and without it, local leaders are left in the dark.”
Rhoads echoed Ra’s sentiments. “[Late budgets] hurt schools. They hurt local governments. They hurt taxpayers. … [This shows] exactly why people are losing faith in state government.”
“Every extender we pass buys a few more days, but it’s not real progress and this one won’t be the last,” Ra added. “New Yorkers are tired of delays and tired of borrowed time. Schools, local governments, veterans’ organizations, public libraries and more all have deadlines to meet — so let’s meet ours.”
As the Democrats fight amongst themselves, Rhoads said, Hochul “plays ringmaster of this three-ring circus, leading New York down a tightrope with no end or budget in sight.”