Each year, the NYS Director of the Budget (Blake Washington) sends a letter in early October to every NYS agency asking for their budgetary needs and priorities—a signal that the governor and her staff are working on the following year's budget. The letter sent today noted that the upcoming budget requests should remain flat—meaning the agency's needs shouldn't cost more than last year's.
Invest In Our New York's Campaign Director, Carolyn Martinez-Class, released the following response statement:
"As working-class and low-income New Yorkers flee the state in droves because of the affordability crisis, Governor Hochul continues to undermine the very programs and services that keep New Yorkers here.
"New York’s 'status as the world’s financial capital' should mean that we use every public dollar possible to improve the lives of all New Yorkers. Instead, the Governor is using the same old fear-mongering tactics, claiming a potential economic downturn is possible and acting as if forcing flat budgets won’t result in diminished services and increased wait times for access to services like unemployment insurance and food assistance programs.
"Our economy is doing just fine. The very rich and corporations are doing great. But if we’re going to, as her budget director says, 'invest in the programs and services New Yorkers have come to expect,' then Governor Hochul has to do better. New Yorkers expect better and deserve better."
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