Senator Bill Weber (SD-38) announced the introduction of Senate Bill S8521, designed to promote greater accountability in the state budget schedule.
Senator Weber’s legislation stipulates that if the State Budget is not enacted by the first day of the fiscal year, the Governor and members of the Legislature will have their biweekly salary payments withheld and permanently forfeited until a budget is passed.
“For the past few years, New York State has failed to meet one of its most fundamental responsibilities—passing an on-time budget,” said Senator Weber. “These repeated delays create uncertainty for our municipalities, school districts, and nonprofit service providers who depend on predictable funding to serve their communities effectively.”
Senator Weber continued, “Accountability must begin at the top. If state leaders cannot fulfill their obligation to deliver a timely budget, they should not continue to receive a paycheck. There is a calendar for a reason, and for government at every level to function in sync, each must do its part.”
“This bill reinforces a simple but important principle,” Senator Weber concluded. “New Yorkers deserve a government that manages taxpayer dollars responsibly and meets its deadlines!”