New York state lawmakers met for the second time this week on Thursday, April 16, to pass a budget extension. It’s the fourth stop-gap extender since New York’s April 1 budget deadline came and went.
Thursday’s additional $79.1 million extension brings the total amount the state has spent on keeping the government open to $7.5 billion and will last through the weekend to Monday, April 20.
Tempers were a bit cooler during legislative debate on Thursday, but underlying frustration still lingered as the outlook for a budget anytime soon looks grim. In continuation of conversations had on Tuesday, Assemblymember J. Gary Pretlow said he’s thought “long and hard” about Assemblymember Phil Palmesano’s baseball-related question and delivered a more discouraging response compared to his previous one.
“We have nine budget bills to pass,” Pretlow, a Westchester County Democrat, said. “If you consider each of these budget bills an inning, I would say that we’re in batting practice pre-game.”
While it garnered laughs from across the floor, Palmesano, R-Corning, said it’s a scary comparison.
How are the funds for the fourth NY budget extension being allocated?
Sen. Michael Gianaris, a New York City Democrat, called the allocation a “very nominal amount” compared to how much they’ve spent so far to keep the government open, to which Sen. O’Mara, a Southern Tier Republican, disagreed and asked where the money was going.
“Well, $79 million may not be a huge percentage of the overall budget that’s going to be about $270 billion,” O’Mara said. “Seventy-nine million dollars still is not a nominal amount, in my opinion, and I’m sure either in any opinion of any constituent that I represent.”
Here’s a breakdown of the latest extension, according to Gianaris:
Emily Barnes covers state government for the USA TODAY Network-New York with a focus on how policy and laws impact New Yorkers’ taxes, communities and jobs. Follow her on Instagram or X @byemilybarnes. Get in touch at ebarnes@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: New York budget extended again. Where is the money going?
Reporting by Emily Barnes, New York State Team / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
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