Buffalo Ledger

As the deadline approaches for finalizing the new state budget, legislators and the governor have spent considerable time negotiating a spending plan expected to exceed $250 billion. The focus of these discussions, however, has been criticized for not adequately addressing the concerns of affordability and public safety in New York.

Earlier this year, the governor presented a $252 billion budget proposal, marking an increase of nearly $9 billion from the previous year. Concerns were raised about the sustainability of such spending, emphasizing the potential burden on taxpayers. Contrarily, the Senate’s proposal has heightened the budget to $259 billion, resulting in a 12.7 percent year-over-year spending increase. This new proposal, if passed, would mean that the state budget has grown by almost $90 billion over seven years, despite no significant change in population, raising alarms about its feasibility.

The proposals have been critiqued for not adequately addressing the need to make the state more affordable, thereby necessitating measures to reduce government size, cut spending, and lower taxes. A significant portion of the proposed budget expenses is tied to the HEAT Act, which aims to phase out natural gas in favor of electricity, in conjunction with the Climate Leadership Community Protection Act. Critics argue that this approach raises costs and limits choices, rendering it impractical.

Furthermore, concerns have been voiced regarding the lack of sufficient measures in the budget proposal to enhance public safety and protect the rights of law-abiding citizens. The absence of reforms in the state's discovery laws, which complicate the prosecution of dangerous criminals, remains a contentious issue. Additionally, the failure to repeal the state’s bail laws is seen as problematic, with reports of individuals charged with serious offenses being released and subsequently reoffending.

The legislative plan also neglects to address recent crises in state prisons by failing to repeal or suspend the HALT Act, a regulation that limits the use of segregated confinement for rule-breaking inmates. The budget draft’s inclination towards closing additional prisons has sparked concerns about the potential impact on public safety and local economies.

As the state approaches the imminent deadline, voices committed to shaping a budget plan that fosters affordability and safety continue to advocate for a more fiscally responsible approach. "In these final days before a new budget is adopted, I will continue to fight for a fiscally responsible plan that helps to make our state more affordable, stronger, and safer."