Addabbo Explains Continuing State Budget Process as April First Deadline Approaches

Howard Beach, NY (March 15, 2016) Now that the New York State Senate and State Assembly have both put forth their own specific visions of a 2016-17 State Budget through their respective one-house budget resolutions, “the real work of coming to an agreement on a final State spending plan truly begins,” according to Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr.

“With the presentation of these budget proposals, both houses of the State Legislature have now staked out their basic positions on how they want the final State Budget to look,” said Addabbo. “They have proposed changes and additions to the Governor’s proposed 2016-17 Executive Budget, which was released in January, all with the intent of adopting a final spending plan by the April 1 deadline. Over the next few weeks, budget negotiations swing into high gear, and we will work to find compromises on a variety of remaining issues so that we can devise a final spending plan that will pass muster with a majority of the Senate and Assembly members, and ultimately, the Governor.”

Since the Governor presented his proposed 2016-17 Executive Budget in January, the Senate and Assembly have been holding joint public hearings on all aspects of the spending plan to solicit input from the public, non-profit organizations, union members, the business community, local governments and other New York State stakeholders. Once these hearings are completed, the numerical majority political parties in the Senate and the Assembly develop and pass their own one-house budget proposals, which are used as blueprints for final negotiations.   

“While the one-house budget resolutions don’t include everything that everyone wants, the different proposals included in them become the focus of discussions by Senate-Assembly Conference Sub-Committees,” said Addabbo, who served one year as the Senate Democratic representative on the Education Conference Sub-Committee. “The various committees then provide their recommendations to the lead Conference Committee, often known as the Mothership. This lead Conference Committee makes the ultimate decisions on what will and will not be in the final spending plan proposed by the Senate and Assembly and put to a vote by the full Legislature.”

In the end, the agreements reached by the two houses of Legislature are included in a series of budget bills that outline both appropriations and language specifically indicating how funding will be used. 

Addabbo noted that he has personally identified a number of priorities that he wants to see addressed in the final 2016-17 New York State Budget, including the adoption of a paid family leave program, increased funding for education, ethics reform, additional aid for senior citizens and public health programs, tax relief for low- and middle-income families, adequate funding for environmental protection programs, assistance for veterans and support for small businesses such as community pharmacies. 

“It’s not over ‘til it’s over, and there is still time for my constituents to influence the process before a final vote on the spending plan is taken,” said Addabbo. “In the end, I look forward to enacting a 2016-17 New York State Budget that will meet the most pressing needs of our state’s residents, and particularly our most vulnerable populations, in a compassionate but fiscally responsible manner.”