The state passed its budget for 2012-13 last Friday, doing it more than 24 hours before the deadline for the first time since 1983 — when Gov. Cuomo’s father, Mario Cuomo, began his first term as governor.
The $132.6 billion spending plan is $135 million lower than the one for 2011-12, the fiscal year which ended March 31. The state portion of the spending will rise by about 2 percent.
State Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr. (D-Howard Beach) called it “a good game plan for jumpstarting job growth, enhancing educational opportunity, rebuilding our crumbling infrastructure, helping our most vulnerable residents, and taking other important steps to improve the lives of New Yorkers while holding the line on wasteful state spending and high taxes.”
Addabbo highlighted several parts of the budget, including $770 million for the next phase of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority capital plan; $30 million to help needy seniors afford prescription drugs through the EPIC program; and creation of a commission to consider expanding casino gambling in a “thoughtful” manner.
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