ALBANY — Now that Gov. Cuomo has unveiled his executive budget, the official 2016-17 state budget process is underway. 

Under the Budget Reform Act of 2007, the state legislature is required to follow a strict schedule in order to enact a budget by the deadline of April 1. This transparent process includes Joint Senate/Assembly Public Budget Hearings that allow legislators to question state agency leaders and that provide members of the public with the opportunity to testify on important budget issues, such as education, transportation and economic development. 

Once these joint public budget hearings are completed, the Senate and Assembly will then pass their own one-house budgets, taking into account the governor’s proposed budget and testimony from the public. Next, Senate/Assembly Joint Conference Committee Hearings will take place so that legislators can publicly debate various spending and revenue priorities, with each House hopefully reaching a consensus. Lastly, a final 2016-17 state budget will be introduced, debated and passed by April 1. Negotiations between the governor and the Senate and Assembly will be ongoing during the entire process.

As your state senator and deputy majority leader of the Senate, I will continue to work hard to ensure that the final budget plan we adopt reflects the key priorities of those I represent in our community. From helping to protect your hard-earned tax dollars to pushing for real parity between Upstate and Downstate, I will work toward a fiscally-responsible budget that controls state spending without increasing taxes, while also providing needed services to state residents.