New York State Senator Steve Rhoads initial impression on the 2024-2025 NYS Budget

The 2024-2025 New York State Budget doubles down on solutions that don’t serve every day New Yorkers.

The State Budget spends billions on initiatives that don’t positively advance the interests of the state of New York - all at the expense of the hardworking taxpayers. From implementing more restrictive rights on property owners, spending record funding on the self-inflicted migrant crisis, pouring more money into the MTA without oversight, coddling criminals, tip-toeing around Tier 6 improvements, changing access to CDPAP for senior and disabled New Yorkers, to not directly funding Nassau’s only safety net hospital, and so much more.

Amidst an escalating affordability crisis, the Democratic-controlled Albany legislature has just approved a colossal $237 billion state budget for 2024-25. This budget represents an alarming $8 billion increase in spending over the previous year and $70 billion more since 2018, burdening taxpayers with the costs of the Democrats' misguided policies.

Spending more shouldn’t be our solution. If it were, we’d be the most successful state in the Nation because no state spends more than New York. Instead, we’re first in population loss, second in taxes, and have the second worst business climate in America according to Forbes magazine.

While the budget delivers a few wins for New Yorkers like answering our calls to oppose cuts to schools foundation aid, makes minor tier 6 fixes, it falls short in providing meaningful relief to struggling families and businesses and has countless missed opportunities to make transformational and fundamental change to turn our state around.

I delivered on my promise to you to be your fighter up in Albany and advocate for common-sense policies. Along with my Republican colleagues, we relentlessly questioned and challenged the budget's priorities late into the night. I demanded measures to enhance affordability, strengthen public safety, and create a more vibrant New York. While the budget has been passed, the fight for the soul of our state lives on. As your State Senator, I will remain steadfast in advocating for your needs because I know we can turn our state around.

The fight continues!