Add The New York Post on Google ALBANY — Lawmakers are finally inching toward passing a state budget as Democrat leaders’ negotiations push the estimated price tag for taxpayers higher and higher.
The first text of the months-delayed spending and policy package was released publicly Wednesday, confirming that Mayor Zohran Mamdani will get a two-year extension over his control over New York City schools and districts around the state will all see a 2% increase in state aid.
But despite Gov. Kathy Hochul declaring a “general agreement” on an already-record $268 billion budget two weeks ago, the overall size of the spending plan now set at $268.5 billion, per Hochul’s office.
Hochul’s team coughed up the updated figure after Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (D-Bronx) told reporters he didn’t even know the topline spending figure Wednesday afternoon.
Hans Pennink for NY Post “I don’t know,” Heastie told reporters asked if the number remained at $268 billion.
Hochul’s office would not confirm if the budget – which was due April 1 – was remaining at $268 billion.
But the delayed process has allowed Albany’s influence machine ample time to shove the package full of pork and other policy priorities.
New York’s powerful labor unions are poised to secure a massive overhaul of their pension benefits – lowering retirement ages to as low as 58, decreasing their contribution rates and other measures that could ultimately leave municipalities and other public employers on the hook for north of $500 million in new costs.
Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie confirmed that New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani will get another two-years of mayoral control over New York City schools, as well as a provision allowing him to disband charter review commissions assembled by previous mayors. Hans Pennink Other surprise items haggled by Dem leaders away from the public eye are starting to be revealed – including an ask by Mamdani to give him the power to scrap a powerful commission that can propose changes to the city charter that had been installed in the waning days of ex-Hizzoner Eric Adams’ tenure.
“It tries to send a message to an outgoing mayor, don’t try to stick a new mayor with something that they may not want to see,” Heastie said.
The second of 10 budget bills was printed set to be passed through the legislature Wednesday. Lawmakers are expected to vote on a bill including sweeping new sanctuary state protections for immigrants Thursday before skipping town for the holiday weekend.
The remaining seven bills, including the actual appropriations measures, are likely to be voted on next week.
