ALBANY — New York's $168 billion budget is being discussed largely behind closed doors. That's not unusual. But Governor Andrew Cuomo is holding budget talks even further out of public view than in previous years, taking them from the capitol to the governor's mansion.

"Probably the most important thing we do every year, it's north of $160 billion, we're going to vote on it," said Assemblyman Kieran Michael Lalor (R - Fishkill). "It doesn't need to be done at the last minute without much oversight, but that's where we're heading."

Lawmakers in the minority parties -- the Republicans in the Assembly, Democrats in the Senate -- are largely shut out of the budget-making process, leaving it up to the governor, the Senate majority leader and Assembly speaker.

"I always look at the bigger picture, because I represent a conference that represents half of New York," said Minority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins. "I believe I should be part of that discussion."

And while more voices could lead to a more drawn out budget negotiation, some lawmakers say they would be fine with that.

"Yeah, maybe it will slow down the process, but this process began in January," Lalor said. "This is like kids who study for the test the night before."

Sources say one of the main sticking points in the budget has been Senate Republicans pushing for a major spending increase to fight heroin and opioid abuse. But at the same time, GOP lawmakers are pushing back against Cuomo's proposal to increase taxes by one billion dollars, making it hard to close a $4.4 billion budget gap.

"There's always a series of issues that I guess both sides, Senate, Assembly, care deeply about, and some of that ends up being resolved in the budget," said Assemblyman Joe Morelle. "But the important thing is to get this done on time."

The budget is scheduled to pass by March 29, but a range of issues, from bolstering mass transit in New York City to criminal justice reforms, remain up in the air.

"Everything that's on the table, if it can work, we try to make it work," said Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie.

Lawmakers were scheduled to meet publicly again on Wednesday after spending targets were agreed to by the Assembly and Senate. That didn't happen.