New York Gov. Kathy Hochul unveiled her $227 billion executive budget proposal for fiscal 2024, up 2.4 percent from the final $220 billion fiscal 2023 budget that was approved in April. The state’s fiscal year begins on April 1. Here is a smattering of other opinions that we received.

Increasing spending—and taxes—is a mistake

The governor claims she is focused on affordability, yet she doubled down on her track record of increased spending at a time when a $22 billion deficit is on the horizon.

Her definition of affordability is starkly different from that of the people I represent in the 51st Senate District.

Public safety, education, improved infrastructure and mental health are all priorities of mine, and I will work with the governor to ensure that needs are met in these and other key areas. However, continuing to spend at an unsustainable rate while hiking taxes and fees will only drive more people and businesses out of the state. We need to exercise a level of fiscal restraint.

Now the real work begins. As a member of the Senate Finance Committee, I will be actively questioning state commissioners and other officials during the upcoming budget hearings with an eye toward developing a final budget that is fiscally sound and addresses true needs.

Sen. Peter Oberacker, R-51
Albany and Oneonta, NY

Allowing more charter schools will harm vulnerable students

For years, NYSUT (New York State United Teachers) members have been fighting for proper school funding and staff levels. The governor’s proposed budget is a historic step in the right direction that promises to dramatically improve our schools and the communities they serve. 

However, we have grave concerns about the proposal to expand the number of charter schools. This will have a devastating impact on our public schools, especially when it comes to our state’s most underserved students. History shows that the corporate charter school industry is interested in making profits, not in the well-being of all students, educators and families. Charters exclude students who don’t fit their business model, and they operate without input from the public or accountability to taxpayers. Where public schools unite our communities, charter schools fracture them. 

Andy Pallotta, president
New York State United Teachers
Latham, NY

New York is taking dollars meant for local government

As a former county official, Gov. Hochul should know that any new costs imposed on New York’s local governments eventually come out of New Yorkers’ pockets in the form of higher property taxes that drive up the cost of both rent and homeownership.

Unfortunately, the governor’s budget includes an unprecedented shift that will saddle local taxpayers with up to $1 billion in new Medicaid costs by pocketing Enhanced Federal Medical Assistance Program (eFMAP) funds that were intended to go directly to local governments to help hold costs down.

Not only does this proposal harm New York’s local taxpayers, but it also subverts Congress’ intent that eFMAP be shared with local governments that contribute to the Medicaid program. 

In March 2020, New York Sen. Charles Schumer said, “Enhanced FMAP funds are so important because they are immediate and flexible. The state—which gets billions and the most of any state in the nation—and counties use the money they save on whatever they want.”

At a time when New York is facing an affordability crisis, the last thing the governor should do is burden local taxpayers with more costs that will drive up the cost of homeownership and rent, increase business expenses, and make New York more unaffordable.

We sincerely hope the governor will reconsider this misguided proposal, adhere to Congress’ intent, and continue to share this federal funding so that we can do our part to make our state more affordable.

Michael Zurlo, president
New York State Association of Counties
Albany, NY