(March 21, 2021) On March 15th, the Assembly passed a resolution which sets forth its proposal for a $208.3 billion 2021-2022 NYS budget. The Assembly resolution accepts and rejects various proposals in the Governor’s proposed Executive Budget and sets the stage for negotiations with the Governor and the Senate, which passed its own budget resolution. The Assembly and Senate budget resolution are substantially similar but are significantly different than the Governor’s proposal. All three use a combination of federal funding and increased State revenues to pay for the State services over the next year.
“Federal funds are one-time payments that should be used for one-time pandemic expenses that have drained our schools, our small businesses, and our communities,” said Assemblymember Abinanti. “We need recurring revenue for long underfunded recurring expenses.”
Similar to the Senate proposal and unlike the Governor’s proposal, the Assembly budget raises taxes on those making $1 million, $5 million, and $25 million dollars a year and continues cutting middle class taxes. Both the Assembly and Senate proposals recognize that when the State pays for services, municipalities and school districts do not have to raise property taxes.
This budget recognizes communities’ need and is a good path to life after the pandemic.
Assemblymember Abinanti spoke in session about this year’s Assembly budget proposal:
