Earlier this week, Gov. Hochul delivered her annual budget address laying out her priorities for the upcoming year and how she plans to fund them. While not shocking, but still disappointing, the total price tag of her plan set another record high, coming in at $227 billion. I know in New York we have become numb to these kinds of numbers, but make no mistake, this is a massive amount of money. You, the taxpayer, are the ones on the hook for the final package that is passed, which is why in my initial reaction I said this total must be negotiated down. Since Majority lawmakers took the Senate in 2018 and assumed single-party rule in Albany, the total state budget has expanded by over $70 billion. Tax-and-spend fiscal policy has been able to go unchecked. With that being said, let’s dive into what I see as the good, the bad and the ugly of the governor’s proposal.

The good involves the governor’s proposal for a substantial boost in Foundation Aid for our schools, $2.7 billion more than last year or a 12.8% increase. Foundation Aid and its formula is critical to get each school district their unique needs. Funding for schools is not a one-size-fits-all approach, and I hope an increase in this area of funding will help our North County and Mohawk Valley schools obtain necessary resources. Another part of the budget where we’ve found common ground is an increase in mental health funding at $1 billion. I look forward to this funding going toward school-aged kids who were disproportionately affected by pandemic lockdowns and a lack of socialization due to remote learning.

The bad includes the governor’s ‘Housing Compact Plan’ that would install 800,000 new housing units across the state. While I agree we have a housing crisis due to affordability, I disagree that this is the proper solution. We constantly see the stats of how New Yorkers are leaving in record numbers, including 500,000 in the last two years alone. Why would we strap local governments and zoning boards with new housing construction when we can’t even keep residents here in the state? As I have mentioned before, the governor would override local zoning board decisions and existing laws to carry out this project, completely disregarding local home-rule. What we should be doing is updating and modernizing existing infrastructure that remains vacant. Only once we fill our existing infrastructure should we float the idea of new housing. Also on the point of infrastructure, the governor’s proposal does not provide an adequate amount of funding for the Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement (CHIPS) Program. This program ensures we fix our local roads, bridges and culverts, which are in constant need of attention. In her presentation all we heard about was the MTA, while this is important, upstate infrastructure projects need to be given equal attention.

The ugly is the total price tag of $227 billion. In the coming weeks’ budget hearings, we will parse out wasteful spending, and with the governor’s record-high budget proposal, there is no doubt it exists. This budget fails to reflect the financial struggles New Yorkers are facing. The highest taxes in the nation, paired with still high inflation rates, have everyone operating on tighter margins. If there were ever a time we need to tighten our fiscal belts, it is now. The governor and legislative majorities must get real about the financial realities all of us are facing and produce a more responsible final budget.

As always, please feel free to reach out to my office at 315-493-3909 or email me at blankenbushk@nyassembly.gov.