02/01/2023 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 02/01/2023 13:59
$1 Billion Plan Will Fix New York State's Continuum of Mental Health Care
Governor Follows Through on Pledge Not To Raise Income Taxes for FY 2024 Budget
New York Housing Compact Will Build 800,000 New Homes, Address Statewide Housing Shortage
$337 Million Investment Aimed at Reducing and Preventing Gun Violence
Addresses MTA 'Fiscal Cliff' While Investing in Public Transit Statewide
Investing $5.5 Billion to Promote Energy Affordability, Reduce Emissions, and Clean Our Air and Water, Building on More Than $30 Billion Committed to Climate Action
$7.6 Billion, Four-Year Child Care Investment Continues, Eligibility Increased To Include an Additional 113,000 Children
$1 Billion Health Care Investments for Capital Projects at Hospitals and Other Facilities
$1.3 Billion Economic Development Investments Will Create Jobs of the Future Across the Empire State
$1 Billion Investment Will Provide Health Care, Shelter, and Other Critical Services to Asylum Seekers
Fully Phases in Foundation Aid, a $24 Billion Commitment to Education that Includes $125 Million for Pre-K, and $250 Million for Learning Loss Tutoring
Link to Budget Book Here
Governor Kathy Hochul today outlined her Fiscal Year 2024 Executive Budget. The FY 2024 Executive Budget reflects Governor Hochul's bold agenda to make New York more affordable, more livable, and safer by making smart, responsible investments in mental health care, public safety, housing, education, climate initiatives, and more.
"I'm committed to doing everything in my power to make the Empire State a more affordable, more livable, safer place for all New Yorkers," Governor Hochul said. "We will make bold, transformative investments that lift up New Yorkers while maintaining solid fiscal footing in uncertain times."
"Governor Hochul's Executive Budget considers the needs of every New Yorker, providing both the funding and a road map to put in place lasting, meaningful solutions," said Acting Budget Director Sandra L. Beattie. "From bold investments in affordable housing, innovative mental health services, and effective crime prevention strategies, this Executive Budget is one that will reach today's New Yorkers as well as our future generations, making New York a stronger and safer state for years to come."
A Balanced Budget
Governor Hochul'sFY 2024 Budget proposal reflects New York's steady finances, even as global economic trends send mixed signals. All funds spending is $227 billion growing 2.4 percent. Deposits to reserves that had been planned for FY 2024 and FY 2025 will be completed by the end of the current year - two years ahead of schedule - for a total of $24 billion secured for a rainy day.
Fixing the Continuum of Mental Health Care
For too long, New York's mental health care system has suffered from underinvestment, and the pandemic only made things harder for New Yorkers with serious mental illness. To address the unmet mental health needs of New Yorkers, Governor Hochulwill make a long-term, $1 billion investment to transform New York's continuum of mental health care. This comprehensive, multi-year plan includes allocating:
Addressing the Housing Crisis
The New York Housing Compact is a comprehensive, multifaceted proposal to address a historic housing shortage in New York State and build 800,000 new homes over the next decade. In addition to setting local housing targets in every New York municipality, emphasizing transit-oriented development, removing barriers to housing creation, and incentivizing new construction, Governor Hochul'splan includes:
In order to unlock thousands of units of housing currently under construction, the Executive Budget extends the 421-A construction deadline through 2030. The Budget also expands HCR'sTenant Protection Unit as part of a multi-year investment to provide targeted support for tenants in upstate New York.
Driving Down Gun Violence, Combating Fentanyland Protecting Public Safety
Governor Hochulwill make major public safety investments aimed at reducing violent crime and enhancing quality of life. Funding will expand programs and services to further drive down gun violence, reduce recidivism, address the flow of deadly fentanyl, and improve the efficacy of the court system, which was disrupted by the pandemic.
-$84.1 million for youth employment programs, of which $37 million is for programs in Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) jurisdictions.
-$70 million for communities to respond to the aftermath of gun violence, of which $50 million is for community capital needs.
-$36.4 million for the GIVE initiative.
- $31.1 million for crime reduction, youth justice, and gang prevention programs.
- $25.9 million for State Police Community Stabilization Units (CSUs).
- $25 million for the SNUG Street Outreach program.
- $18 million for Crime Analysis Centers, including $2 million for crime analysts to combat the flow of fentanylinto communities.
The Executive Budget proposal also includes:
I'm committed to doing everything in my power to make the Empire State a more affordable, more livable, safer place for all New Yorkers."
Expanding Public Transit Access, Affordability, and Safety
Over the past year, Governor Hochulhas advanced the completion of the Long Island Rail Road's Third Track project, taken the inaugural ride into Grand Central Madison, broke ground on the Metro-North Penn Station Access project, and pushed other major projects forward, including the Second Avenue Subway and the InterboroughExpress.
Governor Hochulhas worked tirelessly with partners in the MTA, New York City, and the State to strengthen the long-term fiscal stability of the MTA, while ensuring continued progress in rider safety. The Executive Budget proposal calls for:
Governor Hochulwill build on her record investing in transit by making a new historic contribution to expand public transit access and affordability while improving public safety on trains, buses, and subways, across the state.
Additionally, Governor Hochulwill take action to fight toll and speed camera evasion. A new law will authorize law enforcement and the Department of Motor Vehicles to levy increased penalties on drivers whose license plates are knowingly altered to make them unreadable in photographs, including increased fines and registration denials. The law will also enable law enforcement to seize materials affixed to license plates that are designed to prevent them from being read by speed and toll collection cameras.
Addressing the Climate Crisis and Investing in Affordable Energy
New York State has one of the nation's most ambitious climate plans focused on creating a cleaner, healthier environment for future generations. Governor Hochulwill make a transformative $5.5 billion investment to promote energy affordability, reduce emissions, and invest in clean air and water, building on more than $30 billion committed to climate action.
In her State of the State address, Governor Hochuldirected the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and New York State Energy Research and Development Authority to advance a Cap-and-Invest Program to establish a declining cap on greenhouse gas emissions and invest the proceeds in programs that drive emissions reductions and maintain the competitiveness of New York's industries. Included in the Executive Budget is a proposed Climate Action Fund which is expected to deliver more than $1 billion in future Cap-and-Invest proceeds to New Yorkers every year.
The Executive Budget includes a proposal to advance renewable generation in New York State by granting the New York Power Authority the ability to help the State meet its aggressive renewable energy targets. The Executive Budget also includes nation-leading building decarbonization proposals that will prohibit fossil fuel equipment and building systems in new construction, phase out the sale and installation of fossil fuel space and water heating equipment in existing buildings, and establish building benchmarking and energy grades. The new construction proposal includes certain exemptions such as commercial kitchens. The existing equipment phase out proposal does not impact stoves.
In addition to forthcoming investments from the historic Environmental Bond Act passed by voters in 2022, the Executive Budget includes:
New grant program to provide funding for municipalities to investigate and remediate sites contaminated with emerging contaminants like PFAS.
Making Child Care More Accessible and Affordable
With the actions included in the FY 2024 Executive Budget, Governor Hochulis increasing the State's investment to an unprecedented $7.6 billion over four years to make the child care system more accessible and affordable. This will put New York State on the path toward improving the process of finding child care, widening program eligibility, and supporting the child care workforce. In addition, there will be the following targeted investments:
Creating a Stronger Health Care System
Building off last year's historic $20 billion investment, Governor Hochul'swill continue to invest in high quality health care, address pressing health needs facing New Yorkers, and helping facilities across the state prepare for future public health emergencies. New York's health care system is among the best in the nation, but the pandemic shed light on disparities in the system. The budget seeks to address these disparities by adding more than $1 billion in health care capital funding, expanding Medicaid coverage for 7.8 million low-income New Yorkers, and improving access to aging services and high-quality long-term care:
Boosting New York's Economy
The Executive Budget includes proposals to strengthen the state's economy and accelerate Governor Hochul'svision of making New York the most business-friendly and worker-friendly state in the nation. The Governor has proposed a significant expansion of the State's business attraction programming to create good, high-paying jobs in fast-growing industries like tech, life sciences, and advanced manufacturing.
The Governor has also proposed indexing New York's minimum wage to inflation to help workers meet the rising cost of living and a nation-leading plan to offer fully paid parental leave to thousands of New York State employees.
The Executive Budget also adds:
As part of Governor Hochul'songoing commitment to expanding opportunity for New York workers and businesses, the Executive Budget also establishes the Office of Community and Workforce Development in New York City. The Office will require New York City contractors to make best efforts to hire candidates from economically disadvantaged backgrounds and will require the city to consider impacts of penalties for noncompliance on minority- and women-owned businesses, nonprofits, and small businesses.
Providing Critical Assistance to Asylum SeekersIn total, the State will commit more than $1 billion in the coming year on critical initiatives to support asylum seekers, including:
Supporting Students and Schools
All New York students deserve a high-quality education, from prekindergarten through college. Governor Hochulwill allocate a historic $34.5 billion in total School Aid, the highest level of State aid in history. This funding will help give every child in New York the tools to succeed through a high-quality education. Funding for education includes:
Governor Hochulwill also eliminate the regional cap on the number of charter schools in New York City and authorize the reissuanceof charters due to surrender, revocation, termination, or non-renewal. These changes will permit the issuance of additional charters in New York City and expand educational opportunities for students.