Andy Goodell

State Assemblyman Andy Goodell wants more fiscal restraint in the state budget than what Governor Hochul has proposed.

Kathy Hochul presented her $277 billion spending plan Wednesday that increases spending by $5 billion over the current financial year’s budget.

Goodell said with Federal funds related to the Pandemic drying up, state lawmakers need to look at how to make New York more efficient and less expensive for residents. He said while there are not general tax increases in the proposed budget, he was disappointed with the carbon tax proposed that he says will affect everyone, “Because one of the largest generators of carbon emissions in New York State are the utility companies, including here in Jamestown. And so Jamestown is already paying over $2 million surcharge to help support clean energy and that’s coming right out the pocket of all Jamestown BPU customers. And her proposal would increase those expenses by an estimated billion dollars statewide.”

Goodell said he thought the increase to mental health services was a positive move, and hopes the increase in funding for housing mental health patients is approved.

He also was encouraged by Hochul’s budgetary plans for public safety, including gun violence, “In the category of addressing violence, she included $84 million for Youth Employment programs, which I think is good because the more youth are involved in positive activities, particularly ones that give them job experience, the less likely they’ll resort to gang violence.”

Goodell hopes that the 10% increase in school aid in addition to the full funding of Foundation Aid to school districts will result in tax decreases.

In terms of AIM, or the Aid and Incentives to municipalities program, Goodell thinks funding should increase given that it had been frozen or even decreased 12 years ago.

During the budget process over the next two months, Goodell will be advocating for funding for the 2-1-1 program and support for the Cornell Cooperative Extension program.

Goodell said he and State Senator George Borrello made specific requests for increases in funding for lake maintenance and for the Jefferson Project, “Which is an amazing project with both public and private funding to do a very, very detailed scientific analysis of harmful algal blooms. And that data would be helpful for every lake in the state.”

Goodell added he’s also hoping the $100 million budgeted for transformational hospital construction funds will include money for the new Brooks Memorial Hospital construction in Fredonia.

Governor Kathy Hochul presents her 2024 State Budget

Governor Kathy Hochul has unveiled her $227 billion state budget for 2024-25.

This budget is $5 billion more than the current year, with a 2.4% increase in all spending.

Hochul said public safety is her top priority, budgeting $337 million.

She is proposing $40 million for funding discovery law changes that have required local prosecutors to make evidence available to defense counsel on a fast basis. The budget also backs $20 million for pre-trial services.

Hochul has also proposed $50 million to aid communities affected by gun violence and $35 million in capital grants for combating hate crimes.

Annual school aid will increase $3.1 billion, or 10%, for a total of amount of $34.5 billion. This includes fully funding the Foundation Aid formula for the first time in 17 years.

Also under education spending is $125 million to expand full day pre-kindergarten and $250 million for tutoring programs to help students recover from learning loss.

As previously announced, Hochul allocated $1 billion toward Mental Health with that multi-year funding going toward the creation of 1,000 inpatient beds, $30 million to expand school-based mental health care, and increased funding for outpatient services.

Hochul wants to expand housing in the state by building 800,000 new units, counting those that are already in development. The budget includes a plan that would allow projects to move ahead over the objections of local zoning regulations if a community is failing to meet targets. Funding for housing includes $250 million for infrastucture support and $20 million for planning assistance.

Child care assistance will receive a $7.4 billion increase over four years. Hochul said this is the most ever. The budget also would provide instant eligibility for child care assistance for anyone receiving government support. Co-pays would be lowered and more support is being proposed for child care providers.

Under health care, the budget seeks to address access issues by adding more than $1 billion in health care capital funding, expanding Medicaid coverage for 7.8 million low-income New Yorkers, and improving access to aging services and high-quality long-term care.

However, the New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC) President Michael Zurlo said Hochul’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

While there is no personal income tax increase in Hochul’s budget, she is proposing to extend a higher tax rate for wealthy corporations that had been set to expire at the end of the year.

In 2021, former Governor Andrew Cuomo had increased the tax rate for corporations taking in at least $5 million a year in revenue from 6.5% to 7.25%. The increase was only supposed to be temporary and set to end after three years, but Hochul wants to extend it for another three years. The extension would bring in between $800 million and $1.1 billion annually. Democrats are expected to support the extension.

The State Legislature now has until April 1 to approve a fiscal plan.