Governor Kathy Hochul signed the state’s $254 billion fiscal year 2026 budget into law on Friday more than a month after the April 1 deadline. The signing ceremony took place at Johnson City Middle School near Binghamton. Local elected leaders reacted to the spending plan:
State Senator Pamela Helming:
“For a budget that was supposed to prioritize affordability and public safety, it fails miserably. Instead of relieving New Yorkers of high taxes and costly mandates, the budget doubles down on spending – a $17 billion increase over last year! This budget is out of touch. Those who hold the power in Albany don’t understand the struggles of working families, seniors, farmers, or small business owners. They simply don’t get it. The foundation of an effective government is fiscal responsibility. In New York, that foundation is not merely cracking, it’s collapsing. If you truly love New York, you don’t dig it further into the ground. You fight with all you’ve got to turn it around.”
Assemblyman Phil Palmesano:
“When Gov. Hochul released her budget, she claimed it would make the lives of everyday New Yorkers better and more affordable. The unfortunate reality is that this record-breaking budget is just more of the same. A $254 billion plan of higher taxes, uncontrolled and unsustainable spending and debt. An irresponsible budget that increases spending nearly $13 billion more than last year and creates a three-year budget deficit of nearly $29 billion. Unfortunately, this will do nothing to address New York’s affordability, public safety and quality of life crisis. It will just exacerbate it.
“The governor will claim her modest discovery reforms will improve public safety, and while they are a small step in the right direction, it is still not nearly enough to offset the dangerous crime caused by failed policies like cashless bail and raise the age.
“Also, once again, this budget authorizes the governor to close even more correctional facilities, up to three, with just 90 days’ notice, another insult to the brave correctional officers who work a very dangerous job to keep us safe. This, at a time when 2,000 correctional officers were fired for their demonstrations as they simply asked for their employer, our state, to have their backs and provide them with proper tools and safety measures in their facilities. Now the governor, once again, has the power to close their places of employment, uproot their families and leave hundreds of staff without a job. This is just wrong.
“Our New York families and businesses continue to face a challenging economic and business climate with an onslaught of rising costs, taxes, regulations and unfunded mandates that hinder private sector investment, economic development and job creation. Instead of giving hard-working New Yorkers real relief, Albany Democrats have decided to march on with their disastrous, bloated spending and misplaced priorities, which will do nothing but drive more and more families and businesses out of our state and increase our nation-leading outmigration.
“We can, and must, do better. Our constituents deserve better. As we continue our work for the remainder of this legislative session, let us not forget those who have entrusted us to be their voice in Albany, and let’s work together for common-sense legislation to help make New York a safer, more affordable place to live.”
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