by Erin Vallely

On May 9th, 2025 Governor Hochul signed the 2026 New York State budget into law after the state assembly and senate agreed to the plan.  The budget agreement was 5 weeks late due to disagreements between the governor, state assembly, and state senate.  The budget covers all areas of state finance, and we wanted to share some important points that impact disabled and chronically ill people.   

New York State Budget Process 

The New York State budget process typically begins in January of each year, when the Governor submits a proposed budget to the legislative branch of the government.  The legislative branch, made up of the New York State Assembly and Senate, reviews and debates the budget proposal and makes changes to the proposal.  Once a final agreement is reached, the budget is sent to the Governor for signature, who can then sign the budget into law or veto certain parts. 

Key Budget Decisions  

Total Budget Amount: The New York State 2026 budget describes how $254 billion will be spent around the state.  The money is used to run the state and pays for things like government staff paychecks, human services, criminal justice reforms, healthcare, and other programs to help residents.  The City of Cortland will get about $2,018,300 of state funding, the Town of Cortlandville will get about $37,000, and the Town of Homer will get about $46,700 to be spent on needed projects.  Other towns and villages in Cortland will also get some funding.   

Tax Cut: A tax cut means people will be spending less of their money on taxes.  Under this tax cut, about 80% of New Yorkers will see less of their paycheck going to state taxes beginning in 2026.  Married couples earning $323,000 or less a year will benefit from the tax cut.  Individuals will also benefit from this tax cut.  Although the tax cut plan will take time to be fully implemented, it will bring taxes for the middle class to their lowest level in 70 years. 

Inflation Refund Checks: Inflation is a general increase in the prices of goods and services over a period of time.  Married couples earning less than $300,000 a year will receive a check between $300-$400, and individuals earning less than $150,000 a year will receive a check between $150-$200.  As long as you did your own taxes and were not listed as a dependent on someone else’s taxes, you will automatically receive a refund check if you qualify.   

Mental Health Services: The budget sets aside about $196 million dollars in mental health services and supports throughout the state.  A significant portion of the funding will be spent on in-patient mental health services, as well as community-based programs.  $1.5 million will go towards supporting Teen Mental Health First Aid training which teaches people how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges in teens. 

Free Community College Tuition: $47 million in the budget is being set aside to help cover the costs of college.  The money will be used to cover the remaining cost of tuition, fees, and books for community college students who are studying a field that is in high demand.  Some examples of majors that will qualify for financial help include nursing, pathways to teaching, technology, and engineering.  Students must be between the ages of 25 and 55 to qualify for this financial assistance.    

Get Involved! 

Although the state budget is complex, it’s important to educate yourself on the things it covers, how the decisions might impact you, and continue to advocate for issues you support.  Here’s some resources that can help you get started. 

• Read more of the budget highlights on the Governor’s website at https://www.governor.ny.gov/programs/fy-2026-new-york-state-budget  

• To read the budget in full detail go to http://public.leginfo.state.ny.us/budssrch.cgi?NVBUO:  

• Use ResistBot to easily and quickly write an electronic message to your government representative by going to https://resist.bot/  

If you have questions about the information above, or want to get involved in disability advocacy, please contact ATI at 607-753-7363 or by email at info@aticortland.org.