New York state budget

Although North Country state representatives are not happy about the process, they are encouraged by the potential impact the new state budget should have on northern New York.

Adirondack lawmakers and advocates are applauding the new state budget, which includes more than $100 million for projects in the park and $400 million for environmental protection across New York State. The $229 billion state budget is the biggest in history

Late Tuesday night, the New York state budget was approved, a month after its due date. But the Republicans who are in the minority in the State Legislature, along with some government reform groups, said it wouldn't have hurt to wait an extra couple of days and allow the public to see what's the massive $229 billion package.

The $229 billion package includes changes to bail reform laws, the minimum wage, and new requirements to shift people to clean energy.

New York state lawmakers on Tuesday evening finished voting on the $229 billion state budget that was already over a month late.

Despite a “conceptual” agreement announced by Gov. Kathy Hochul last week, details for many major spending items have still not been worked out.

A deal to raise minimum wages in New York would keep the state near the top of the list of places with the highest base pay for low-paid workers, but the raise amount is disappointing some labor activists who had hoped for a bigger bump.

The governor says there is sufficient agreement with the legislature on major items to announce the preliminary accord.

Gov. Kathy Hochul says she deserves credit for trying to push through an ambitious plan that would build 800,000 new homes over the next decade, but she failed to coalesce a consensus around the proposal.

With the New York state budget now over four weeks late, Gov. Kathy Hochul says the wait may be nearly over — but nothing is settled yet.