Governor Kathy Hochul faces scrutiny over how she will finance the initiatives in her State of the State address, including tax cuts, transit projects, and public safety improvements. With a $240 billion budget last year and rising Medicaid and education costs, critics highlight the state’s $15.6 billion budget gap.
Hochul’s upcoming budget address on January 21 is expected to detail funding plans, including potential “new revenue sources” for MTA projects.
While she pledged not to raise taxes, some lawmakers advocate taxing millionaires. Meanwhile, Hochul has raised $18 million for her 2026 reelection campaign, bolstering her political position.
FULL COVERAGE: State of the State 2025 – Proposals and Reaction
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected].