New York households in every region of the state are struggling with the realities of rising energy prices and more-expensive grocery bills, straining budgets to their max. The cost of living in New York state isn’t just a passing storm. It’s a full-blown nor’easter, blanketing residents under an insurmountable financial burden. New York’s persistent affordability […]
New York households in every region of the state are struggling with the realities of rising energy prices and more-expensive grocery bills, straining budgets to their max. The cost of living in New York state isn’t just a passing storm. It’s a full-blown nor’easter, blanketing residents under an insurmountable financial burden. New York’s persistent affordability problem begins in Albany.
We cannot talk about affordability without talking about the elephant in the room, runaway state spending. Years of reckless spending has fostered one of the nation’s most hostile economic climates. The FY 2025-26 state budget ballooned to an unprecedented $254 billion [upon adoption in May]. New York is outspending states with larger populations and more robust economic growth and opportunity. It’s clear Democrats in Albany actually believe they can fix the affordability crisis by asking taxpayers for more money.
A snapshot of New Yorkers highlights the precarious situation: households of all income levels are scrapping and clawing to make ends meet. A report from the Community Service Society of New York revealed a desperate financial picture for residents (https://www.cssny.org/publications/entry/financial-precarity-among-new-york-state-residents). One in four New Yorkers has no emergency savings, more than a quarter report relying on debt to cover expenses and close to 40 percent are not saving for retirement.
If we want New York to be a place where families can thrive, we must change our course. Affordability won’t come from government checks; it has to come from fundamental reforms. The Assembly Minority Conference knows it’s too expensive to live here and call this place home. We have introduced a number of legislative proposals that would provide the immediate financial relief New Yorkers are desperately seeking, including:
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Inflation Relief & Consumer Assistance Plan: Eliminate sales tax on dozens of everyday items for two years, including (but not limited to) gasoline, personal-care products, housekeeping supplies, and prepared foods (A.7417, Barclay);
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Earned Income Tax Credit Expansion: Expand the New York state value of the earned income tax credit from 30 percent to 45 percent of the federal amount (A.5661, Barclay);
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Mobile Tax Freedom Act: Eliminate the state sales, compensating use, and excise taxes on mobile-telecommunications services. Also, authorize local governments to eliminate their sales and compensating use taxes on mobile telecommunications (A.9204, Barclay);
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State Spending Cap: Cap state spending to the average rate of inflation of the three previous calendar years and increase the maximum capacity of the rainy day fund (A.7530, Barclay);
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Division of Regulatory Review and Economic Growth (D-RREG): Establish a division, led by a commissioner who has a fixed term, to review and make binding recommendations for the elimination of burdensome regulations and implement a “two-for-one” reduction requirement mandating agencies identify two existing rules for elimination when proposing a new rule (A.5582, Barclay);
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Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit: Increase the state allowance of qualified expenses by 15 percent (A.2314, Ra); and,
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Empire State Child Credit: Increase the state tax credit amount to 45 percent of the federal child tax credit amount (A.2492, Ra).
The Empire State should be defined by the heights of its citizens’ opportunities, not the height of their tax bills. We cannot keep asking New Yorkers to tighten their belts while the state government loosens its own. Affordability must become a mentality, a policy directive. New York’s future depends on it.
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
