Governor Kathy Hochul and state lawmakers endorsed a fifth temporary stopgap budget measure on Monday, keeping New York’s government funded through Friday. The spending plan remains overdue by over three weeks from the original April 1 deadline, but optimism is growing for a final budget agreement.
Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, the top Democrat in the state Assembly, stated, “I think we’re getting closer. There are still a few things that have to be worked out. But hopefully the end is near.”
Key decisions on environmental and climate change initiatives, potential expansion of charter schools in New York City, and a plan addressing illegal cannabis sales are yet to be made. However, legislators and Governor Hochul have mostly moved on from issues such as housing expansion, with Heastie indicating these matters will likely be addressed after finalizing the budget.
Fiscal-related issues in the budget, including a proposal from legislative Democrats to increase tax rates for those earning over $5 million annually, have not been settled. To keep the government functioning and state workers paid, lawmakers have approved temporary extension provisions.
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