New York’s budget season starts with friction over taxes and education funding

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York Democrats who control the state Senate and Assembly have released their budget proposals for the year, setting up potential battles with Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office over education funding and income taxes.

The spending plans mark the start of the state’s budget negotiations, a process that will play out behind closed doors between the governor, Senate leader and Assembly speaker ahead of the budget’s April 1 due date.

Hochul said she thought the budget could be wrapped up on time this year, appearing keen to avoid the kind of intraparty squabble that delayed it last year, when she sparred with lawmakers over a housing plan and a change to bail laws.

“Everything that we need to have is on the table now,” Hochul, a Democrat, said.

Hochul unveiled her own budget proposal in January, pushing lawmakers to spend $2.4 billion to address the city’s migrant influx as well as new programs to combat retail theft — both sensitive political issues for Democrats ahead of a contentious congressional election year in New York.

The Assembly and the Senate are on board with the governor’s plans on migrant spending, which would include short-term shelter services, legal assistance and health care.

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