The New York state budget is currently more than a week late. This is a clear indication to me and every resident of this great state that serious reforms need to be implemented. For far too long, the budget process has been riddled with secrecy and partisan political games; games detrimental to the fiscal well-being of every New Yorker. As elected officials, we owe it to the citizens of this state to produce a budget that represents each part of this diverse state, as well as ensuring that the process we use to do so is transparent.
The Assembly and Senate Majorities have yet to offer us a timeline for when the budget is going to be completed or produce a schedule for budget subcommittee meetings. This lack of progress is another clear example of why reform of the budgetary process is needed. It must be transformed into a system that allows full transparency so that not only the special interests, but every New Yorker can see what is occurring at the budget negotiating table.
In the wake of another disastrous budget process, my Assembly Minority colleagues and I put forward common-sense budget reforms that would have produced a responsible, yet on-time state spending plan, constructed in complete transparency, and containing fewer taxes. Our plan would do all of this while spurring our economy and creating jobs. Some of our reforms include:
- Prohibiting consideration of non-budget bills after April 1 until the budget is adopted;
- Prohibiting legislative recess until adoption of the budget;
- Limiting year-to-year increases in all funds spending to no more than the rate of inflation; and
- Requiring that the previous year’s budget be put in place no later than 72 hours after the start of a new fiscal year to ensure an on-time budget.
Sadly, this is the 21st time since 1985 that the state budget has been late. Each time the this delay occurs, it affects not only the state’s spending plan, but it makes it difficult for schools and local municipalities to finalize their spending plans. It is critical that the legislature and governor come together this year to work in a bi-partisan manner to implement real reforms, so that New York can leave behind its reputation as the nation’s most dysfunctional state government.
If you have any questions or comments about the state budget or any other state issues, please don’t hesitate to contact me at either my Johnstown office at (518) 762-6486, or my Herkimer office at (315) 866-1632.