New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli issued the following statement today on state budget negotiations.

“The Governor and Legislature are discussing many important issues as they work to finalize the state budget, but they need to find common ground and resolve them soon. In these uncertain times, New Yorkers need a spending plan that supports our state’s continued economic recovery, provides for those in need and still struggling from the pandemic’s impacts, and bolsters reserves to ensure the sustainability of services. The final budget should also meet high standards of transparency, and I urge lawmakers to reject the proposed changes, which eliminate competitive bidding requirements and oversight by my office of nearly $13 billion in spending.”

Background on State Payroll Impact of a Late Budget:

• As we informed the Executive and legislative leaders in early March, the budget needs to be passed by end of business on Monday, April 3 for the April 6 Institutional Payroll to be processed without delay.
• There are approximately 57,000 employees on the institutional payroll, which includes employees working at the regional institution facilities for the state Department of Corrections, state Office for People with Developmental Disabilities, state Office of Mental Health and some state Department of Health and state Education Department facilities (does not impact State University of New York or City University of New York employees, as they have a fiscal year of July 1).
• If a final agreement is not reached, lawmakers can pass a budget extender, which is a temporary solution to ensure that state workers on the Institutional Payroll get paid on April 6.
• State law also requires my office to withhold salary payments to legislators after March 31 if a budget is not in place. Lawmakers will not get paid until a final budget is in place. Their next payroll is April 12.
• If a budget is not in place by April 10: To avoid any possible disruption to state employees, passage of the budget or an extender must occur no later than noon on Monday, April 10 for the Wednesday, April 12 Administrative Payroll to proceed without risk of delay.

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