WNY News Now

(WNY News Now) – New York State Senator George Borrello has expressed strong concerns over Governor Kathy Hochul’s Executive Budget proposal, highlighting its record-high spending and potential long-term financial impacts on New York residents.

Senator George Borrello has released a statement sharply criticizing Governor Kathy Hochul’s $252 billion Executive Budget proposal, calling it an “escalation of spending” that could exacerbate New York’s financial challenges. The proposed budget reflects a $19 billion increase from last year’s plan, a rise Borrello described as both “reckless” and a driver of the state’s high cost of living.

Borrello pointed to the state’s growing budget gaps, projected to reach multi-billion-dollar levels in coming years, as evidence of structural fiscal mismanagement. He singled out Medicaid spending as a key issue, citing its reputation as the most expansive and costly program in the nation, even surpassing California’s. The Senator urged the state to reform Medicaid by aligning benefits with other states and addressing waste, fraud, and abuse.

“Without reform,” Borrello warned, “we are ignoring reality and setting the stage for painful tax increases and cuts in other areas of the budget in the near future.”

While Governor Hochul has proposed measures such as middle-class tax cuts and rebate checks, Borrello argued that these initiatives are overshadowed by the broader spending increases. He expressed concern that taxpayers would ultimately face higher taxes and fees to fund the budget.

Another issue highlighted in Borrello’s statement is the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) $33 billion capital plan shortfall, which he noted is conspicuously absent from the current proposal. He predicted that addressing this deficit in the final budget will likely result in additional financial burdens for New Yorkers.

Traditionally, Borrello remarked, the Governor plays a crucial role in balancing ambitious goals with fiscal discipline during budget negotiations. However, he criticized Hochul’s approach as falling short of this responsibility.

“New Yorkers deserve better,” Borrello concluded. “It’s time to stop treating taxpayers like an endless ATM and start making the tough choices necessary to secure our state’s financial future.”

Senator Borrello’s full statement can be read below:

“Governor Hochul’s Executive Budget proposal represents a staggering and deeply troubling escalation of spending at a time when New York cannot afford it. With a record $252 billion price tag, this budget is $19 billion higher than last year’s Executive Budget proposal. The unchecked growth in spending is not only reckless, but it is the driver of the high cost of living that is pushing out residents and jobs.  

The state is staring down major multi-billion-dollar budget gaps in future years, underscoring the structural fiscal issues we are failing to address. At the heart of this problem is Medicaid, where spending continues to skyrocket with no meaningful plan from the Governor to rein it in—even as she herself has called the current trajectory ‘unsustainable.’ New York’s Medicaid program has long been known as the ‘Cadillac’ of state Medicaid programs because it is the most expansive and costly, outpacing even California’s. It’s long past time for the state to align its benefits with those of other states and take stronger measures to root out the waste, fraud and abuse. Without reform, we are simply ignoring reality and setting the stage for painful tax increases and cuts in other areas of the budget in the near future. 

While the Governor has included so-called ‘affordability’ measures such as middle-class tax cuts and rebate checks, against the backdrop of skyrocketing spending and looming deficits, the net effect for taxpayers will be more financial pain in the form of higher taxes, fees, or other burdens to fund this irresponsible budget. 

Adding to the chaos is the unaddressed $33 billion gap in the MTA’s capital plan. While this massive shortfall is conspicuously absent from the budget, it will need to be addressed in the final budget—likely through new taxes or fees that will once again hit hardworking New Yorkers.

Traditionally, it has been the Governor’s responsibility to serve as the ‘adult in the room’ during budget negotiations, balancing ambitious priorities with fiscal discipline. Unfortunately, this proposal suggests that Governor Hochul is content to pass the buck instead of passing meaningful reforms. New Yorkers deserve better. It’s time to stop treating taxpayers like an endless ATM and start making the tough choices necessary to secure our state’s financial future.”