In response to Governor Hochul’s FY25 state budget presentation, Empire Center President & CEO Tim Hoefer issued the following reaction:

“Governor Hochul is telling it like it is: New York’s school aid and Medicaid spending are out of line with national norms and raising income taxes again isn’t the answer.

This is the sort of honest talk New Yorkers—and their state lawmakers—needed to hear. In fact, more restraint will be needed to fix the long-term structural gaps.

If state lawmakers are worried about the costliest-in-the-nation schools not getting enough state aid, they should make good on their decade-overdue promise to give local schools more flexibility so they can operate more efficiently.”

Empire Center experts will be reviewing the FY25 Executive Budget Financial Plan and sharing analysis at EmpireCenter.org in coming days.

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