New York state will avoid a government shutdown after lawmakers approved a two-month stopgap spending plan.
The short-term budget passed Monday was introduced by Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo after he and lawmakers failed to reach agreement on a one-year budget.
The budget was supposed to be approved before Saturday, when a new fiscal year began. But negotiations over the more than $150 billion spending plan bogged down over juvenile justice reform, education spending and an affordable housing tax credit for New York City.
Lawmakers won't get paid until they pass a budget. Cuomo's short-term spending plan runs through May 31, though lawmakers hope to strike a deal on a long-term budget sooner than that.
Governor Cuomo issued this statement:
"The passage of today's budget extender continues all state operations and fully funds our $16.4 billion new New York construction and economic development plan for the next complete fiscal year. From the Buffalo Billion to Whiteface Mountain to Penn Station to the LIRR, our development moves forward. But make no mistake: we are far from done. We must finish the job and pass a responsible budget that makes college tuition free for the middle class, fully funds our public schools, cuts taxes for the middle class, Raises the Age of criminal responsibility, combats homelessness, and moves New York forward. We will work until we accomplish it all."
Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb issued this statement:
“A late budget is a failure of state government to meet one of its basic responsibilities. Today’s emergency budget extender is a disappointing and dysfunctional reminder that after three full months, Albany has achieved next to nothing."
Senator Chris Jacobs issued this statement:
“I am very disappointed that a final budget agreement is not in place. The extender approved this afternoon is necessary to ensure that New York State government continues to operate and provide services uninterrupted to its citizens. Negotiations are continuing, and I remain optimistic that adoption of a final budget could still happen in the near future."
