By Mark Scott
Albany, NY – State legislators adopted a new $89.6 billion state budget Thursday. All eleven spending bills were approved overwhelmingly as both chambers of the Legislature finished the adoption process late in the afternoon.
Deputy Assembly Speaker Arthur Eve was critical of the spending package for failing to give Buffalo extra aid to help close a budget gap. But the budget does include an extra $20 million in education for Buffalo schools.
The new state budget includes $7.7 billion for higher education. Of that amount, $1.8 billion is earmarked for the State University of New York in general operating aid. SUNY tuition remains the same at $3,400 a year.
New Yorkers who owe delinquent taxes can pay without a penalty under a tax amnesty program approved Thursday as part of the state budget. The program is expected to generate an extra $175 million for the state.
Participants can escape any applicable fines and criminal charges and will receive a two percent break on the interest rate, normally six percent.