New York State budget

Food banks and pantries document the rising needs of low-income households in reports they must file to obtain state funding. Gov. Kathy Hochul’s $227 billion executive budget demonstrates that the administration either isn’t paying attention or doesn’t care. RiverheadLOCAL editorial

Foundation aid, which is determined based on a formula established by the state legislature factoring in wealth, cost of living and the regional economics, was enacted in 2007 in response to a court ruling that the state’s funding of public schools was inadequate and unconstitutional.

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced a $220 billion state budget deal Thursday that includes changes to broaden judicial discretion in setting bail and suspending state sales tax on fuel.

The $175.5 billion budget deal includes a permanent 2-percent property tax cap, an additional $1 billion in education funding, tolls on Manhattan streets and criminal justice reforms. It does not include the governor’s proposal to legalize the recreational use and sale of marijuana.

The Democratic-majority state legislature has passed one-house budget bills opposed by the Republican members of the East End delegation.

The 2018-2019 budget meets a 2-percent spending cap and closes a $4.5 billion deficit, according to statements issued by Gov. Andrew Cuomo and leaders of both chambers of the legislature. 

The $153.1 billion budget increases state education aid by more than 4 percent, provides for tuition-free public colleges for families earning $125,000 or less and raises to 18 the age for criminal prosecution as an adult.

School boards must adopt budget proposals by April 21 and submit property tax levy data to the state by April 24 in preparation for the May 16 public vote. They will have to prepare their budgets and even ask for voter approval without knowing state aid amounts for 2017-2018.

The 2015-2016 budget package also includes compromised, but still highly controversial, changes to the way teachers are evaluated , receive tenure and can be fired.

Details of the agreement will be released today, but Gov. Cuomo said the agreement includes “landmark education reforms and investment” as well as “ground-breaking ethics reform.”