Wednesday, March 19, 2025
For me and my fellow state legislators, the governor’s State of the State address and executive budget proposals are our blueprint for the year ahead, a map outlining where Gov. Kathy Hochul plans to lead New York, and how she intends to use taxpayer dollars to get us there.
While I recognize the value of several initiatives in this year’s budget proposal, such as expanding child care and addressing public safety concerns, this year’s $8.6 billion spending hike only deepens our long-term structural challenges — a cycle we’re already struggling to break. Year after year, we see more spending, more taxes and more financial uncertainty for New Yorkers. Instead of doubling down on costly commitments, we need to take a hard look at where this money is going and whether it truly benefits you and your family.
Hochul’s $252 billion spending plan is the largest in the state’s history. If the $8.6 billion increase sounds familiar, that’s because it is — another year, another massive spending increase. Her plan commits to billions in new spending without addressing the structural fiscal issues jeopardizing our long-term financial stability. And while some proposals may sound appealing, they rely on speculative future solutions that leave taxpayers footing the bill, such as billions of dollars for film, TV and Broadway, $13.5 million in funding to implement a school cellphone bans and $3 billion in “inflation reduction” payments to households making up to $300,000.
The governor’ catchphrase, “Putting money back in your pockets,” is disingenuous when she’s the one taking the money out of your pockets in the first place. Her focus on affordability rings hollow when her policies do the exact opposite. Long Islanders already face some of the nation’s highest property taxes, yet Albany continues to pile on costs. While investing in our schools and providing middle-class tax relief are priorities I support, those commitments must be made responsibly. Instead, Hochul’s budget increases spending without a stable financial foundation to support it.
To put this reckless spending in perspective, consider how it would play out in your household budget. Imagine continuously increasing your expenses, piling on debt, and whenever you come into extra money, instead of saving or paying down what you owe, you spend even more. That’s exactly what Albany is doing. This cycle of unchecked spending isn’t sustainable. Just as responsible families make tough financial choices, so must our state if we want a stable and secure future.
It’s not all doom and gloom, however. I was encouraged to see Hochul address several key issues that the Assembly minority conference has been advocating over the years, including closing gaps in discovery reform, providing middle-class tax cuts and expanding access to affordable child care. Additionally, the long-overdue changes to the foundation aid formula to fund our schools are a welcome and positive step forward.
But this progress doesn’t change the hard reality that the proposed budget significantly increases spending across the board. State operating expenses are set to rise nearly 8 percent, far outpacing inflation. While the state’s financial plan projects a $3.5 billion surplus this year, that’s largely the result of increased tax revenue and adjusted spending timelines — something that isn’t guaranteed on a yearly basis.
Even with the Division of Budget’s revised projections adding $8.3 billion in revenue through 2029, it won’t be enough to counter soaring costs in Medicaid and school aid. The state still faces a projected $27 billion budget deficit within three years. And with a new federal administration in office, Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli has warned about potential shifts that could impact the state’s finances.
Given these uncertainties, it’s critical that we prioritize long-term budget sustainability. That means making responsible fiscal decisions now — curbing reckless spending, reducing our reliance on temporary revenue boosts and ensuring that taxpayers aren’t left covering shortfalls for years to come.
In short, Albany’s spending addiction is unsustainable, and we can’t afford to ignore the consequences any longer. The governor’s plan gambles on higher tax revenues to justify even more spending, but fails to tackle the deep-rooted fiscal challenges threatening the state’s future. We need to reprioritize by making targeted, responsible investments rather than broad, unsustainable spending.
As we move forward in the budget process, I will continue to fight for a more responsible, affordable New York — pulling back the curtain on where your tax dollars are really going, and standing up for you. We deserve better.
Ed Ra represents the 19th Assembly District.
