Albany is once again blowing past its April 1 deadline to pass the state budget.
Lawmakers voted Thursday to extend current state funding to Thursday of next week as they flee Albany for the Easter holiday weekend without passing the vast majority of the state budget.
Gov. Kathy Hochul and legislative leaders agreed to keep the state running as negotiations over the massive spending plan continue.
“While I believe a final agreement is within reach, I recognize many New Yorkers would like to spend the holiday weekend with family and loved ones,” Gov. Kathy Hochul wrote in a statement Wednesday evening.
Blowing the deadline doesn’t come as much of a surprise as negotiators have been casting doubt on an on-time final deal being reached before allowing lawmakers to go home before the Easter holiday.
A calendar released late last year had lawmakers scheduled to be in Albany next week and the following.
The state Senate and Assembly voted Thursday to extend current funding levels through next Thursday, allowing state workers to continue receiving pay and keeping government services online. The legislature also passed a less controversial portion of the budget extending debt obligations to avoid a downgrading of the state’s credit rating.
Sources familiar with the progress of the talks tell the Post that negotiators are still haggling over much of the massive state spending plan, with talks over an overarching conceptual agreement on major areas of disagreement like education funding, Medicaid programs and a major housing deal still ongoing.
Last year’s state budget, which was largely held up due to disagreements on how to address changes to bail reform, only passed on May 2 with lawmakers and the governor extending funding levels six times.