Gov. Hochul gives New York budget presentation
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ALBANY, N.Y. (WTEN) -- Governor Kathy Hochul presented New York's fiscal year 2026 Executive Budget on Tuesday at 1 p.m. You can watch the presentation in the video player above.
In the budget address, Hochul laid out plans for $252 billion to be allocated to her State of the State proposals, marking a 3.6% increase from last year. $21.1 billion would be kept in reserves in case of an unexpected downturn.
In her State of the State address on January 14, Hochul made affordability her main focus. Among her proposals were free school meals, a tax cut for the middle class, expanding New York's child tax credit, and an inflation refund for taxpayers.
As part of her Affordability Agenda, Hochul proposed for $3 billion to be allocated for Inflation Refund checks to 8.6 million New Yorkers. $340 million may also be used to provide free school breakfast and free school lunch for every New York student.
Hochul also doubled down on investments to improve crime rates across the state. This year's budget could allocate $370 million for gun violence prevention programs. Law enforcement departments throughout the state may also be provided with hefty funding, including $77 million given to the New York City Police Department for a six-month deployment of two NYPD officers on every New York City subway train and an expanded law enforcement presence on subway platforms.
For health care, Governor Hochul proposed $35.4 billion for the state's Medicaid program. Housing budget plans included $100 million set aside for first-time homebuyers.
After the budget presentation, the legislature will go through public budget hearings over the next few weeks. The state budget is due April 1.
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