Assemblywoman Donna A. Lupardo (D-Endwell) announced that a proposed constitutional amendment and legislation she sponsored to ensure that responsible state budgets are adopted on-time every year passed the Assembly (A.1, A.2).

"New York’s budget-crafting system has become synonymous with gridlock and dysfunction, and that’s got to change," Lupardo said. "This plan will bring transparency, accountability and efficiency to the process, and above all, will help ensure on-time budgets in the years to come."

The budget reform proposal would:

• move the start of New York’s fiscal year from April 1 to May 1 to allow for better revenue and spending projections and institute provisions to instill greater accountability in the process;
• implement a contingency budget as a last resort if no spending plan is passed by May 1;
• require a two-year appropriation for education aid that will help schools stay a step ahead by finally giving them the information they need, when they need it; and
• create a reserve fund in the state constitution to ensure sufficient funds exist for the payment of education aid in May and June of each year.

The Senate passed the Assembly’s budget reform plan – it now awaits the governor’s signature – but the Senate has not passed the constitutional amendment legislation.

"To ensure that the voters can decide on the constitutional amendment in November, I strongly urge the Senate to re-pass the constitutional amendment as soon as possible," Lupardo said.