“Another week has gone by in Albany without a budget, and it is now 17 days late. Schools across the state are finalizing their budgets for the upcoming May budget vote–most of which are due by April 22–without knowing what state funding they'll receive, threatening vital programs. They need to finalize their own budgets and plan for the upcoming year, but without clear answers from Albany, they are forced to make blind decisions. I will continue to advocate for a larger reimbursement of Universal Pre Kindergarten Programs (U-PK) as we work through finalizing the budget and prioritize affordability, childcare and our schools, which are the foundation of our communities.”