Thursday, October 1, 2026
As New York’s budget process moves toward its April 1 deadline, the debate in Albany should center on one simple question: How do we make life more affordable for the people who live and work here?
State government should act like families all across New York who have no choice but to carefully manage their budgets. When costs rise, they cut back, make adjustments, and try to stay in control of their finances. But in Albany, where Democrats control both houses of the legislature and the governor, they do the exact opposite — tax more, spend more and hope no one notices.
At a time when families are struggling with skyrocketing costs for groceries, housing, utilities and fuel, state spending has exploded. Since 2019, when Democrats took full control of state government, annual spending has increased by nearly 60 percent. That’s a $90 billion increase, all of which is paid for — in some form or another — by you, not just this year, but every year. Earlier this month, Senate Democrats released their 2027 spending plan totaling $269.8 billion, with over $5 billion in tax hikes and a staggering $11.5 billion in new spending. Their plan also includes another $5.1 billion bailout of direct aid and tax increase authorizations for New York City and Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s radical agenda.
Meanwhile, Albany Democrats are ignoring a recent bombshell report from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority — the state’s own energy experts — warning of the staggering costs tied to the Democrats’ 2019 climate mandates. According to that report, these policies could add another $2.23 to every gallon of gasoline and $2.41 per gallon of diesel fuel. Small-business utility bills could spike by as much as 46 percent, and the average New York family could see annual utility costs rise by up to $4,100 per year. That’s on top of the crushing increases we’ve already seen thanks to the Democrats’ “climate tax” on residents and businesses.
The sad truth is that Albany Democrats have known about these costs all along, yet they have made the conscious decision that their radical environmental agenda is more important than whether families can afford to put food on the table, heat their homes, or fill their gas tanks. They talk about “affordability” but saddle New Yorkers with the highest tax burden in the nation while creating America’s second-worst climate in which to operate a business and create jobs.
While my colleagues seek to create “affordability” by punishing success and pushing average hard-working New Yorkers to the financial breaking point, people are leaving this state in record numbers. Over a million New Yorkers have moved out since 2020, and millions more — maybe even you and your family — are discussing their New York exit plan.
My Senate Republican colleagues and I have offered a better way forward, introducing countless actionable solutions to deliver real relief for taxpayers and working families. Among them is my legislation to enact the largest personal income tax cut in state history, which would put $5,000 back in the pockets of the average New York family each year, simply by applying the same 2 percent spending cap every other municipality lives by. We’ve proposed exempting tip and overtime income from state income taxes. We’ve also proposed the elimination of the Democrats’ Health Care Reform Act, which would save the average family $1,400 per year in health care premiums — all common-sense steps that would allow you to keep more of the money you earn.
We’ve demanded greater oversight of government spending by requiring the governor to hire an independent private firm to audit state agencies and public authorities for improper, fraudulent or abusive expenditures. We’ve introduced legislation to slow down unrealistic climate mandates and stop the proposed Cap-and-Invest tax before it drives energy costs even higher. We need to fuel New York’s future with clean, safe, reliable, diverse and affordable energy options. Sadly, these solutions have fallen on deaf ears as the Democratic majority has blocked them.
This budget process continues to prove one thing — our state is driving off an “affordability” cliff under one-party Democratic rule. If New York is going to change course, either Albany needs to hit the brakes or New Yorkers need to change drivers. Families across this state deserve a government that helps them move forward — not one that forces them to move elsewhere.
Steve Rhoads represents the 5th State Senate District.
