Senator Elijah Reichlin-Melnick: Senate Budget Will Save RCPC, Invest in Schools, Health, Infrastructure & more

New City, NY - Senator Elijah Reichlin-Melnick announced the State Senate one house budget resolution would provide billions of dollars of funding and relief to schools, hospitals, local governments, middle class taxpayers, parks, seniors, veterans, and public safety. The resolution passed by the Senate today, would increase Foundation Aid funding for public schools by $1.37 billion, deliver nearly $800 Million in income and property tax relief for middle class families, and stop the Governor’s proposed closure of the Rockland Children’s Psychiatric Center - saving over a hundred local union jobs and making sure hundreds of families can continue to receive services locally. Importantly, the Senate proposal would not have a negative tax impact on anyone making less than $1 million annually.

State Senator Elijah Reichlin-Melnick said, “This budget resolution would do more for the people of Rockland and Westchester Counties than any state budget in the past decade. The budget plan includes millions in relief for property taxpayers, and dedicates millions more for our local schools. This budget would also invest millions in our local roads, services for seniors, state and local parks, clean air and water. It would help small businesses recover from the pandemic, and provide many other vital programs and services that improve the quality of life in Rockland and Westchester Counties. Importantly, it would reject the Governor’s irresponsible proposal to close Rockland Children’s Psychiatric Center, ”

The Senate Majority’s one-house budget resolution also protects against cuts to state aid to local governments, advances the $3 billion Clean Water, Green Jobs, Green New York Environmental Bond Act, and authorizes mobile sports wagering. Together with the Assembly one-house resolution, this resolution takes a principled approach to address New York State’s hardships brought on by COVID-19 and builds the foundation for a healthier economic future for the entire state. 

While the Senate’s one-house budget provides huge gains and protections for middle class New Yorkers, none of these proposals are permanent until there is an agreement between the Senate, the Assembly, and the Governor, which will ultimately be voted on by both houses and signed by the Governor. Budget negotiations with the Governor have already begun, and the budget is required by law to be finalized by April 1.