HUDSON VALLEY- Voters will head to the polls on Tuesday to approve school budgets throughout New York, but due to a state budget that is now more than 45 days late, school districts were forced to estimate state aid for the upcoming school year. Most typically, with an on-time, or nearly on-time state budget, districts head to voters with certainty as to how much money the state plans to pony up.
The state legislature is controlled by Democrats, and no Republican votes are needed to pass the budget. Major sticking points include new taxes and tax increases that are needed to address budget shortfalls.
Assemblyman Karl Brabenec (R, Deerpark) expressed frustration over the late budget.
“It’s beyond frustrating that we’re weeks past the deadline and Albany still hasn’t delivered a budget. Our schools, towns, and families are left in limbo,” he said on social media.
School districts throughout the state have prepared state aid estimates for the upcoming school year with the hope that the final budget comes in at or greater than those forecasts.
As of Friday, there was no date for the introduction of budget bills in the legislature. Legislative leaders only said that a budget was expected “soon.” Last week, Governor Kathy Hochul announced that a budget deal had been reached, but her statement was quickly refuted by Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie who told reporters that no deal had been reached.
In the meantime, more than ten budget extenders have been passed that temporarily fund state government while negotiations continue between Democrats in the legislature and the Governor.
Albany lawmakers are scheduled to end their legislative session in early June.
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