Statement from Senator Dan Stec on the 2023-24 Enacted State Budget

“More than a month after it was due, New York State finally has a state budget. It’s unfortunate that Governor Hochul and Democrat Legislative leaders failed to use that time to craft a fiscally responsible plan that would end our state’s cycle of economic stagnation and rising costs and taxes. In the end, the budget they’ve advanced is a financial disaster and riddled with bad policies. 

“Study after study shows that New York’s high tax-and-spend climate has pushed residents and businesses to leave our state for more and better opportunities elsewhere. This year’s budget only exacerbates that situation. It spends at an unsustainable $229 billion and positions New York for a major budget deficit next year and a $15 billion long-term budget gap. 

“Not only does this budget come at a ridiculously high price tag, it focuses on the wrong priorities. Despite promising to enact a prison reuse initiative for sites like Moriah Shock, this major issue was ignored. Instead of providing our taxpayers with needed relief, it allocates $1 billion to assist illegal immigrants. Rather than fund universal school lunches, something that has widespread bi-partisan support, it shortchanges that program in favor of providing several million to cannabis-related programs. And it provides further financial distress to local governments and homeowners by intercepting eFMAP funding and shifting more than $2 billion in costs onto local taxpayers over the next four years. This move will further accelerate our affordable housing crisis by driving up property taxes. 

“After months of posturing and promises to fix bail reform, the much-touted corrections to this unsafe policy falls short. The governor and Democrat leaders paid lip service to prioritizing public safety and have ultimately done very little to address and stem rising crime and repeat offenses.  

“Governor Hochul and Democrat Legislative leaders had more than ample time to enact a responsible budget that meets the needs of all New Yorkers. Instead, they passed what is arguably the worst budget I’ve seen in my 11 years in the Legislature.”