The New York State budget has been finalized, drawing criticism from some quarters. Senator Walczyk expressed dissatisfaction with the outcome, describing it as a “big, bad, terrible spending plan” that does not adequately address the needs of New Yorkers.
The budget stands at $254.3 billion and could potentially exceed $260 billion with additional funding. According to Senator Walczyk, this reflects misplaced priorities. He highlighted a $1 billion allocation for NYSERDA that he claims fails to tackle rising energy costs effectively. “Families will see their electric bills increase,” he noted, adding that they would receive only a partial rebate.
Senator Walczyk also criticized the allocation of $800 million in film tax credits, arguing these funds do not directly benefit communities. He suggested alternative investments such as increasing funding for critical programs like the CHIPS program by $250 million, investing $5 million into YMCAs for youth support, or providing $20 million for EMS Medicaid emergency reimbursement rates.
Concerns were also raised about the transparency of the budget process. The use of a “message of necessity” bypassed the usual three-day review period, which Senator Walczyk believes undermined democratic principles and limited scrutiny.
In his statement, Senator Walczyk concluded that New Yorkers deserved a budget focused on their needs rather than what he termed “pet projects.” He expressed disappointment that the final plan did not reflect the values and aspirations of state residents.
