New York’s budget director says it is too early to determine whether additional taxes will be needed to support the next state spending plan, even as Gov. Kathy Hochul leaves open the possibility of new revenue to expand child care.
Budget Director Blake Washington made the comments Monday following the state’s annual preliminary budget meeting, Spectrum News reported.
Washington said the administration must evaluate revenue and spending projections before making decisions about taxes. He pointed to an improved financial outlook as officials prepare for negotiations over the budget due next spring.
The comments follow FingerLakes1’s reporting on an $8.1 billion increase in the state’s tax revenue forecast. That update reduced the projected gap for the next fiscal year and gave officials more room to manage spending pressures.
Hochul has resisted broad-based tax increases but recently said she wants to identify ways to finance a broader child care system.
Her remarks do not amount to an endorsement of a specific tax proposal. Washington likewise did not identify a revenue measure the administration intends to pursue.
The Assembly’s November preliminary budget report describes continuing risks despite stronger collections, including uncertainty surrounding federal policy, financial markets and spending obligations.
The administration also expects to continue reviewing Medicaid programs and other major expenses for potential savings, according to Spectrum’s account.
Hochul is expected to outline her executive budget priorities early next year. The state’s fiscal year begins April 1.
For families awaiting expanded child care access, the unresolved question is how the state would finance a lasting expansion beyond its existing commitments.
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