Syracuse Area State Senator John DeFrancisco says controversial take it or leave it reforms within Governor Cuomo's proposed budget could make it the first late budget in four years. DeFrancisco chairs the Senate's Finance Committee, and says while they're willing to compromise, many are balking at proposed ethics and education reforms tied to critical funding.
"I got a feeling that all of these contingencies will get a budget if you do this contingency, if you do that. I know what he's going to do. If the budget's late, he's going to blame us because we didn't do what he told we had to do, but you know, we're not just potted plants. We have a role to play and we have to protect our districts and the various regions, and if that happens, let the public decide who made it happen."
One of the other sticking points is how to spend the projected 5.4 billion dollars from bank settlements. DeFrancisco calls it an opportunity of a lifetime for municipalities of all sizes to put toward infrastructure rather than economic development as the Governor prefers.
"Every single one of them has substantial infrastructure problems. With that money, a one shot deal to fix or renovate or put in new pipes or new roads or new bridges; that's what the money should be used for. We've got plenty of economic development projects."
DeFrancisco says the Governor's approach to have upstate regions compete for half billion dollar chunks of that settlement money only to have the Governor choose a winner "isn't tolerable anymore."
"Are we going to have a project that's not necessary? That doesn't make sense just so we win a competition. Roads and bridges and piping and all the infrastructure work makes sense because why would we ever try to attract businesses when there's one-hundred water main breaks as of today? What's that going to show companies that we're trying to attract?"
DeFrancisco expects each house to submit their respective budgets next Thursday, and then joint committees will hash out the details. The budget deadline is April 1st.