The state plans to spend $175 billion over the next 12 months and the budget has wide-ranging impacts on New Yorkers' everyday lives.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo's budget plan includes a tax on prescription painkillers — a provision that raises $100 million in revenue. But the proposal has its critics, including pharmacy trade groups and state lawmakers like Assemblyman John McDonald, who worry the cost will be passed on to patients.
“That's just totally inappropriate. To be able to tax a patient who is in chronic pain who may be at end-of-life and in palliative care, I find it unconscionable to be honest with you,” said McDonald, (D) Assembly – Cohoes.
To control the highest property taxes in the country, Cuomo also this year wants to permanently extend the state's cap on local increases. The Assembly, however, does not want to make any changes to the current cap. The Senate approved it as a standalone bill in February. Sen. Shelley Mayer says she wants the provision included in a budget deal, calling property taxes a major issue for her constituents.
“They are really making it very difficult for people to stay, for people to pay for their schools and for the municipalities,” said Mayer, (D) Senate – Yonkers.
Meanwhile, the Assembly's Democratic conference is on board with a proposal to charge drivers entering Manhattan below 61st Street as a way of raising revenue for mass transit. The issue, however, has stoked calls from upstate and suburban lawmakers to add more money to what's known as the Consolidated Highway Improvement Program, or CHIPS.
“We've got to make sure we're investing in the entirety of New York state and the health of our transportation systems are working,” said David Carlucci, (D) Senate – Clarkstown.
And perhaps the biggest change to affect everyday life in New York could be a ban on the use of plastic bags. The only thing left to sort out is whether a fee might be charged on carryout paper bags and how that money would be used.
“I think we've had good discussions with the governor and the Senate. I think the conference is clearly ready to ban plastic bags. The question is what are you going to do if you charge a fee? We've always felt that it should go to the environment,” said Carl Heastie, (D) Assembly speaker.
The budget is due to be approved on Sunday, the final day of the state's fiscal year.