NEW YORK STATE — After a month of delay, New York State lawmakers finally adopted their 2023-24 state budget. This year’s budget checks in at almost $230 billion, a record that will …
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NEW YORK STATE — After a month of delay, New York State lawmakers finally adopted their 2023-24 state budget. This year’s budget checks in at almost $230 billion, a record that will be “a big cost to all New Yorkers,” according to State Senator Peter Oberacker.
Lawmakers wrestled for four weeks, making changes to the budget, although not many that Oberacker support. In fact, the Senator voted against nine of the ten separate bills that were included in the state budget.
“New York is number one in outmigration and this budget will do nothing to reverse that sorry status,” he said. “Simply put, this is another wasted opportunity to enact the changes needed to improve public safety, rebuild our economy, and return affordability to the communities I represent.”
Oberacker said that one of the bills he did not support included outlawing gas appliances in new homes and buildings. Oberacker supports the budget’s education aid for schools, funding to help increase mental health services, and the $25 million grant program to support volunteer fire departments.
“The bad far outweighs the good in this budget which was crafted by one-party in complete secrecy and rushed to the floor for a vote without allowing any opportunity for substantial review,” Oberacker said.
Bail reform was also a major point of discussion regarding this year’s budget.There is also an adjustment to bail reform, including allowing judges to set bail for gun charges that were previously subject only to release.
Another change is to clarify and expand the factors judges must consider to set bail. The factors added are: (1) history of gun use or possession; (2) any previous violation of an order of protection; and (3) whether the charge is alleged to have caused serious harm to an individual or individuals. Factors one and two currently only apply to domestic violence cases.
Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther is in support of these changes, while Oberacker believes the budget “fails to make substantive changes to bail reform.”
“Judges need the ability to hold defendants on bail if they believe there is a risk to the public,” said Gunther. “I am happy to say this budget affords them that discretion.”
Other budget highlights
There is a school aid increase of $2.1 billion in the budget, as they are providing the highest funding level in state history at $31.5 billion. That includes funding for new initiatives to expand the teacher workforces.
The budget also includes a total of $100 million of matching funds over two years provided to school districts and BOCES with the highest needs.
Gunther, the chair of the Assembly Mental Health Committee, fought hard for the mental health investment in the budget. A lot of that corresponds with the school districts getting more support to create better atmospheres for the students and teachers alike.
There is an initiative to improve air quality for school-age New Yorkers, as well. The budget requires that all new school bus purchases be zero-emissions by 2027 and all working school buses be zero-emissions by 2035.
Gunther said that hundreds of new inpatient facilities will open and the system will see an influx of $1 billion of “badly needed funding to support those in this state who need it most.”
This is only a portion of the improvements made for mental health in the state, which also includes $35 million to prepare New York for the nationwide launch of 9-8-8, the suicide prevention and behavioral health crisis hotline system.
A historic $13.5 million is included in the budget for the Department of Health to support the LGBTQ+ community.
“It is refreshing after all these years to finally see the type of investment in the
mental health system that
we have been demanding,”
Gunther said.
The budget also includes $7 billion over four years for child care, which more than doubles support for child care subsidies.
The Assemblywoman, however, also sees issues with other bills that were passed as part of the budget. The Cost of Living Adjustment for the human services workforce got a four percent increase, which she is not happy with.
“I am very disappointed in the four percent Cost of Living Adjustment for our human service workforce. In fact, it does not even keep pace with the cost of living. While the investment in new mental health services is heartening, it won’t do us any good if there is no one there to actually staff the programs.”
She stated that she advocated strongly for an 8.5 percent increase, which she believes was the “bare minimum” to keep the industry afloat.
US Rep. Marc Molinaro (NY-19) also released a statement on the state budget, which includes bashing the ban on gas appliances and stating that the bail reform change still “fails to address the serious concerns raised by law enforcement, victims, and the public.”
“They say you can’t rush perfection. Apparently the same applies to dumpster fires,” he said. “Governor Hochul’s budget prioritizes far-left priorities over the safety and well-being of our communities.”
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