ALBANY — After being 37 days late out of the State Capitol, the New York State Budget of $254 billion was passed by both houses of the State Legislature Thursday night. Fresh off the heels of its approval, both State Senator Peter Oberacker and State Assembly Person Paula Kay released their comments on the process and the results.

For Kay, the budget was characterized by victories – from providing financial relief to millions of New Yorkers and local businesses to increasing access to higher education and improving public safety, the state budget puts New York families first. 

“The enacted budget provides much needed relief to hardworking families and individuals across the state and makes major investments in our schools and public safety,” Assembly Member Kay said. “We expanded affordable housing initiatives, strengthened access to childcare, funded free school meals, modernized the arraignment process and reformed discovery laws to help improve public safety. While I would have liked to see even more investment in our local roads through the CHIPS program, the enacted budget addresses some of the most pressing challenges New Yorkers are facing today.” 

The Senator, however, said that he feels the budget “misses the mark” for Upstate New York. In his comments, he said he felt the 9-digit budget “misplaced priorities, reckless spending, and the continued disregard for rural communities and public safety.”

“This budget is completely disconnected from the needs of everyday New Yorkers,” he said. “While families are struggling to pay their utility bills and buy groceries, Albany Democrats are busy expanding housing vouchers for illegal migrants and cutting deals behind closed doors.”

One of the most egregious budget items, according to Oberacker, is “a hidden $10 million appropriation” for the legal defense of State Attorney General Letitia James, who was recently reported to be currently facing an FBI investigation for mortgage fraud.

He went on to condemn Governor Kathy Hochul’s administration’s ongoing efforts to close more state prisons; a move he says that disproportionately hurts upstate towns.

Kay, who represents Woodbourne Correction Facility and constituents from Sullivan and Orange County who work at Eastern Correctional Facility, was in agreement with Oberacker on that case. She said she voted against allowing for the closure of up to three prisons across New York State, and also introduced legislation to mandate mental health services for all correction employees. 

Despite the flaws in the armor pointed out by Oberacker, he felt that the budget’s contents weren’t 100 percent all bad. 

“Universal free breakfast and lunch in schools, continued investments in school-based health centers, and $5 million in new grant funding for meat processors are wins I fought hard for, both in committee and on the Senate Floor,” he said. “These programs directly support families and small businesses in our upstate communities.”