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Joint Legislative Hearing - Senate Finance Committee and Assembly Ways and Means Committee

2025-02-04 2025-2026 Executive Budget - Local Government Officials/General Government Chair: Sen. Liz Krueger (Senate Finance) and Assemblyman J. Gary Pretlow (Assembly Ways & Means) View full transcript → Archive

Wire Brief

New York State held a joint legislative budget hearing on February 4, 2025, examining the Governor's proposed 2025-2026 Executive Budget with focus on local government and general government issues. The hearing featured testimony from NYC Mayor Eric Adams, five upstate mayors, local government associations, NYC Comptroller Brad Lander, and election officials. Mayor Adams reported significant progress on public safety, with crime down 17% above ground and 36% in subways in January 2025. He requested $1.1 billion in state funding to address a budget shortfall for migrant services, noting NYC has processed 220,000 migrants with 46,000 currently in care. The city has spent approximately $7 billion on migrant services over three fiscal years. Adams highlighted achievements including removal of 20,000 illegal guns, closure of 1,300 illegal cannabis shops, and the City of Yes housing plan projected to create 80,000 new homes over 15 years. Upstate mayors testified on persistent funding challenges. Rochester Mayor Malik Evans requested $32.7 million in AIM funding to achieve parity with peer cities. Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano highlighted the city's 90% graduation rate while requesting a Regional Cost Index adjustment that would bring $65 million in additional funding. Buffalo Mayor Christopher Scanlon noted the city's fixed costs increased $130 million since 2012 while AIM remained flat. Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh reported the city's population grew for the first time in 70 years, attributing growth to refugee resettlement. Comptroller Lander raised concerns about migrant services spending, noting the city wrote down nearly $500 million in claimed prior-year asylum seeker spending and that 80% of DocGo contract invoices could not be documented. He proposed a joint city/state emergency task force to address federal funding threats. Local government associations testified on critical needs. The Association of Towns noted towns maintain 63% of state roads while spending $1.8 billion annually on transportation. The Association of Counties reported approximately 85% of county budgets are mandated by the state, with counties sending $14 billion to Albany annually. Both associations requested increased AIM funding tied to inflation and dedicated water infrastructure funding. Election officials testified on aging infrastructure and funding needs. Commissioners noted 38 of 62 counties use voting machines over 15 years old. The Public Campaign Finance Program was highlighted as successful, with small in-district donations increasing from 5% to 45% of funding with matching funds. Election advocates requested $114.5 million for continued program funding and $10 million minimum for county boards of elections. Senators and Assembly members raised concerns about federal funding threats, property tax reform, housing affordability, and election administration. Sen. Liz Krueger emphasized the need for a coordinated state-local response to potential federal cuts. Multiple legislators questioned the sustainability of current funding models and requested long-term solutions rather than one-time appropriations.

Topic Summary

Joint legislative hearing on the Governor's proposed 2025-2026 Executive Budget focusing on local government officials and general government. Testimony covered municipal funding (AIM), infrastructure, housing, workforce challenges, migrant services, public safety, and election administration. Multiple panels testified including NYC Mayor Adams, five upstate mayors, local government associations, NYC Comptroller, and election officials.

Testimony (16)

Eric Adams elected_official supportive
Mayor, City of New York
Mayor Adams testified on NYC's fiscal management, crime reduction, and key legislative priorities including 'Axe the Tax for the Working Class,' the Supportive Interventions Act, and discovery law reforms. He discussed the migrant crisis, noting 220,000 total arrivals with 46,000 currently in care, and requested $1.1 billion in state funding for the gap. He highlighted achievements in housing, jobs, and public safety while addressing structural budget challenges.
Mike Spano elected_official supportive
Mayor, City of Yonkers
Mayor Spano requested additional education funding and a Regional Cost Index adjustment for Yonkers. He highlighted the city's 90% graduation rate and noted that Yonkers taxpayers pay more per pupil than comparable cities. He discussed infrastructure needs, property tax challenges, and the need for sustainable, predictable state aid rather than one-shot funding.
Malik Evans elected_official supportive
Mayor, City of Rochester
Mayor Evans requested AIM funding parity ($32.7 million baseline increase), affordable housing support, GIVE aid for gun violence elimination, and Vision Zero funding. He highlighted Rochester's poverty challenges, noting three of top five poorest zip codes in NY are in Rochester, and discussed the Inner Loop North transformation project.
Christopher P. Scanlon elected_official supportive
Mayor, City of Buffalo
Mayor Scanlon requested AIM increase linked to inflationary index, authorization for parking authority, 3% occupancy tax, and capital funding for DPW campus. He noted Buffalo's structural deficit and discussed internal cost-reduction measures including 10% departmental budget reductions.
Kathy M. Sheehan elected_official supportive
Mayor, City of Albany
Mayor Sheehan requested permanent Capital City Funding with annual increases tied to tax cap, discussed downtown revitalization with $400 million state investment, and highlighted property tax reform needs. She noted 64% of Albany land is tax-exempt and discussed the impact of hybrid work on downtown.
Ben Walsh elected_official supportive
Mayor, City of Syracuse
Mayor Walsh discussed Syracuse's progress under the Syracuse Surge strategy and housing initiatives. He requested state support for housing, infrastructure, and workforce development, and highlighted the impact of the Micron semiconductor project and Interstate 81 reconstruction.
Brad Lander agency_official neutral
New York City Comptroller
Comptroller Lander testified on NYC's fiscal challenges, affordability crisis, and federal funding threats. He discussed the migrant crisis spending, noting $7 billion spent with unclear reimbursement status, and proposed a joint city/state emergency task force to address federal cuts. He highlighted concerns about childcare costs, homelessness, and transportation.
Justin Brannan elected_official neutral
Councilmember, Chair of Finance Committee, New York City Council
Councilmember Brannan testified on behalf of Speaker Adrienne Adams regarding cost shifts from state to city, including MTA paratransit costs ($165 million annually), ICP hospital payments ($56.7 million), and Medicaid FMAP savings ($343 million annually). He discussed education funding gaps and early childhood education needs.
Barbara J. Van Epps advocate supportive
Executive Director, New York State Conference of Mayors
Van Epps testified on behalf of 576 city and village members, thanking Legislature for first AIM increase in 15 years but requesting more. She discussed transportation funding needs, water/sewer infrastructure (SWAP program), EMS crisis, housing, workforce challenges, and federal funding threats.
Christopher Koetzle advocate supportive
Executive Director, Association of Towns of New York State
Koetzle testified on behalf of 933 towns representing 9.1 million New Yorkers. He discussed AIM funding inequities, infrastructure needs (CHIPS, water/sewer), workforce crisis, and EMS mandate concerns. He highlighted that towns maintain 63% of state roads and face significant unfunded mandates.
Stephen J. Acquario advocate supportive
Executive Director, New York State Association of Counties
Acquario testified on behalf of counties, noting state spending of $8.2 billion through local aid programs. He discussed Medicaid local cost cap importance, county infrastructure program, aging services, civil service reform, and federal funding threats. He emphasized counties deliver all federal health and human service programs.
Dustin M. Czarny advocate supportive
Democratic Caucus Chair, Election Commissioners Association of the State of New York
Czarny testified on behalf of election commissioners, requesting reappropriation of poll book grants and more flexible election grants. He noted NY is one of few states without annual election funding and discussed aging election infrastructure needs.
Marina Piro advocate supportive
Counsel, Elections and Government Program, Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law
Piro testified on public financing program success, noting small in-district donations jumped from 5% to 45% of funding with matching funds. She urged full funding of $114.5 million and support for voting reforms including John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act implementation.
Erica Smitka advocate supportive
Executive Director, League of Women Voters of New York State
Smitka testified on election administration funding needs, noting cost per voter nearly doubled from $15 (2016) to $28 (2024). She requested $10 million minimum for county boards and discussed ERIC database and voting access for detained individuals.
Karen Wharton advocate supportive
Democracy Coalition Coordinator, Fair Elections for New York
Wharton testified on behalf of Fair Elections for New York coalition (200+ organizations) supporting $114.5 million for Public Campaign Finance Program. She discussed program success in first cycle and need for continued funding.
Susan Lerner advocate supportive
Executive Director, Common Cause New York
Lerner testified on unprecedented federal threats to democracy and cybersecurity needs. She supported election administration funding and proposed emergency task force between state and localities to address federal funding cuts.

Senator Engagement (23)

Senator Engagement Stance Focus Areas Summary
Sen. Alexis Weik skeptical sanctuary status unfunded mandates property tax relief Sen. Weik questioned sanctuary city policies and asked about unfunded mandates and property tax relief.
Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal supportive mental health Sen. Hoylman-Sigal was noted as present but did not ask questions during the hearing.
Sen. Christopher J. Ryan supportive housing development public safety staffing intermunicipal cooperation local government efficiency Sen. Ryan asked substantive questions about housing strategies, police recruitment/retention, and ways to improve local government cooperation and efficiency.
Sen. Cordell Cleare supportive affordable housing TIL buildings Black and senior housing Sen. Cleare focused on affordable housing for Black New Yorkers and seniors, asking about specific programs and initiatives.
Sen. George M. Borrello skeptical migrant relocation sanctuary policy EMS funding Sen. Borrello questioned sanctuary city policies and migrant relocation practices, and discussed EMS funding approaches.
Sen. James Sanders Jr. supportive Foundation Aid autism programs working class support Sen. Sanders asked about education funding and working-class support programs.
Sen. Jeremy A. Cooney supportive Vision Zero public transportation transit equity Sen. Cooney asked about Rochester's Vision Zero initiative and transportation equity programs, expressing support for these initiatives.
Sen. Jessica Ramos skeptical early childhood education mental health funding opioid settlement funds Sen. Ramos questioned cuts to early childhood education and asked about mental health and opioid settlement fund distribution.
Sen. John C. Liu skeptical TFA debt capacity ICE enforcement at schools migrant debit card program Sen. Liu questioned TFA financing expansion and raised concerns about ICE enforcement near schools and migrant services, seeking clarification on administration policies.
Sen. Julia Salazar skeptical childcare center closures civil service reform Sen. Salazar questioned childcare center closures and asked about civil service law reforms to allow non-citizens in public service positions.
Sen. Kevin S. Parker supportive MWBE participation cannabis enforcement Sen. Parker asked about minority and women-owned business enterprise participation and cannabis enforcement efforts.
Sen. Kristen Gonzalez supportive election misinformation cybersecurity election funding AI deepfakes Chair Gonzalez (Elections) asked substantive questions about election threats, misinformation, cybersecurity, and funding needs for election administration.
Sen. Liz Krueger supportive federal funding threats property tax reform housing affordability climate change election administration special election timelines Chair Krueger engaged extensively throughout the hearing, asking pointed questions about federal funding impacts, property tax equity, housing solutions, and election administration. She expressed concern about federal threats and proposed collaborative approaches between state and local governments.
Sen. Luis R. Sepúlveda skeptical AIM funding restoration property tax reform Sen. Sepúlveda expressed frustration about lack of city commitment to restoring AIM funding and property tax reform, noting he has raised these issues for multiple years without adequate follow-up from city administration.
Sen. Mark Walczyk skeptical housing strategy hotel development unfunded mandates special election timelines voter ID Sen. Walczyk asked pointed questions about unfunded mandates, special election procedures, and voter ID requirements, expressing skepticism about some proposals.
Sen. Monica R. Martinez neutral TFA financing EMS regional approach housing IDAs Chair Martinez asked clarifying questions about TFA debt capacity and EMS regional coordination, seeking to understand implementation details of proposed programs.
Sen. Patricia Fahy supportive Capital City Funding federal funding cuts short-term rental implementation Sen. Fahy asked about Albany-specific funding and federal funding threats, and thanked panelists for work on short-term rental legislation.
Sen. Rachel May supportive housing affordability faith-based housing election administration poll worker training Sen. May focused on housing solutions for poverty-stricken areas and election administration improvements, asking practical questions about implementation.
Sen. Rob Rolison neutral mental health crisis migrant tracking grant administration Sen. Rolison asked about mental health infrastructure, migrant tracking, and state grant administration processes.
Sen. Roxanne J. Persaud neutral shelter oversight police staffing poll worker training voter turnout Sen. Persaud asked about shelter management, police precinct staffing, and election administration improvements.
Sen. Samra G. Brouk supportive local government support Sen. Brouk was noted as present but did not ask questions during the hearing.
Sen. Shelley Mayer supportive local government support Sen. Mayer was noted as present but did not ask questions during the hearing.
Sen. Thomas F. O'Mara skeptical unfunded mandates Medicaid eFMAP funding Sen. O'Mara asked about county unfunded mandates and Medicaid funding issues, seeking commitment to property tax reduction if mandates funded.