After 11 extenders and more than a month past its April 1 deadline, the 2025-2026 New York State budget is finally complete. The unprecedented $254 billion spending package again does little to truly move the needle to make life in New York more affordable. The lack of fiscal relief and restraint provided by this budget […]
After 11 extenders and more than a month past its April 1 deadline, the 2025-2026 New York State budget is finally complete. The unprecedented $254 billion spending package again does little to truly move the needle to make life in New York more affordable. The lack of fiscal relief and restraint provided by this budget is disappointing, and so, too, are the watered-down policy changes accompanying the spending plan.
The components that held up budget negotiations were policy measures involving the involuntary commitment of individuals suffering from severe mental illness, the use of masks during protests, and laws dictating how evidence is handled in criminal trials. While some adjustments were made to make it easier for law enforcement and prosecutors to do their jobs, the resulting legislation could have been stronger, compared to the substantial time it took legislative leaders to draft it.
Further, the budget also provides for two notable bailouts: one for the state attorney general and one for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). The MTA has consistently shown it is unable to manage its budget, and the service commuters are getting is nowhere near commensurate with the enormous sums of money the state has provided the failing agency. Also, $10 million set aside to defend criminal charges unrelated to a public official’s duties as Letitia James faces fraud allegations [over personal mortgages] is an insult to taxpayers. These are the types of measures that get included in a budget negotiated behind closed doors and passed hastily before most lawmakers can even read it.
As is the case with most budgets, there were some items included for which the Assembly Minority Conference has advocated. The state will finally address overdue unemployment-insurance payments owed to the federal government — a huge victory for small businesses; an expansion of the Empire State child credit paired with middle-class tax cuts are positive steps in the right direction. Central New Yorkers should celebrate
$450 million to help Upstate University Hospital implement critical upgrades.
However, the best way to evaluate our spending plans is by looking at the return on investment. The 2025-26 plan is
$13 billion more than last year and has increased by $77 billion in the last five years. Despite the state’s runaway spending, the quality of life, economic stability, and public safety continue to lag behind other states that spend far less money than we do. This budget, ultimately, fails to fix what’s actually wrong with New York. Unless the governor and her legislative allies take this reality seriously, we will be having this same conversation next spring.
William (Will) A. Barclay, 56, Republican, is the New York Assembly minority leader and represents the 120th New York Assembly District, which encompasses all of Oswego County, as well as parts of Jefferson and Cayuga counties.
Will Barclay
