Governor Hochul signs $220 billion budget, boosted by federal aid, surplus
ALBANY, N.Y. -- The state Legislature worked through the night to pass Gov. Kathy Hochul's first budget, which she says includes a list of things that will make life better and easier for millions of New Yorkers.
The spending plan had an April 1 deadline, but disagreements over police issues held up passage for more than a week. Legislators reached a "conceptual" agreement on Thursday.
At the top of the governor's priority list, given the concerns about public safety, was bail reform and changes to the law that will allow judges to hold people on bail when they're charged with gun crimes, hate crimes and repeat offenses, CBS2's Jessica Moore reported Saturday.
"It's an important step for giving our local leaders the changes that are needed to make our communities, their communities safer," Hochul said.
Also in the $220 billion budget is a $2.1 billion tax cut for the middle class, property tax rebates and perhaps most celebrated, a gas tax holiday.
It will run for six months, from June 1 until Dec. 31. Drivers will save 16 cents per gallon and $585 million in total savings.
The money saved could perhaps be used at restaurants, which will be allowed to extend sales of cocktails and other alcoholic beverages with to-go orders, a move first implemented at the height of the pandemic.
The new deal will last fore three years, stipulating drinks must be sold in sealed containers and can only be sold with food. No full bottles of wine or liquor can be sold.
"We want to continue bringing relief to those mom and pop small businesses and local restaurants. They really bore the brunt of shutdowns and pandemic restrictions," Hochul said.
The governor and the Legislature also added $7 billion for child care.
Also included in the budget deal is $600 million for the Buffalo Bills stadium project.