Senate passes sixth budget extender to fund payroll and operations through April 23

The New York State Senate on April 16 approved a short-term budget extender that sponsors said provides roughly $9.6 billion in appropriation authority and will allow state payroll and nonpersonal expenses to be met through April 23.

Senator Krueger, the sponsor, described the measure as the sixth budget extender this season and said it “will provide appropriations to allow the state government to meet our payroll and non personal expenses through April 23 next week.” She said the package increases appropriation authority by about $3.4 billion over the prior extender.

The extender passed after floor debate that ranged beyond straightforward funding mechanics and into policy disputes holding up final budget negotiations. Lawmakers discussed ongoing talks on discovery rules, concerns about federal actions affecting offshore wind projects, timing for school-aid payments, and transitional problems in the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP). Despite those outstanding items, senators moved to approve the extender so state operations and paychecks would continue.

Why this matters: The approval preserves state operations for the coming week while leaders continue negotiations on a full budget. Sponsors and critics both pressed for clearer targets and more time for rank-and-file review; several members argued the recurring use of one- or multi-day extenders undercuts transparency and raises costs.

Key details and debate

Sponsor’s description and financials: Senator Krueger told colleagues the extender is the sixth this session and provides about $9.6 billion in appropriation authority, an increase of approximately $3.4 billion over the prior extender. She said the measure covers payroll and nonpersonal expenses through April 23.

Negotiations and process concerns: Several senators questioned the need to call all members back to Albany for an extender that, in some cases, covers only a short period. Senator O'Mara said he believes the practice imposes avoidable travel and lodging costs on the Legislature and estimated that convening members for a few days can cost roughly $150,000–$200,000. Senator Krueger and others defended extenders as a way to prevent a government shutdown while negotiations continue.

Policy items still unresolved: Senators named several policy disputes that have slowed final budget progress. Krueger said she was “cautiously optimistic” about a possible agreement on discovery rules but acknowledged other sticking points. Members discussed involuntary commitment proposals and the separate proposal to increase criminal penalties for wearing a mask while committing other crimes; Krueger noted involuntary-commitment discussions are tied to the budget because they implicate services funding, while the mask penalty is a codes committee matter.

CDPAP transition and payments: Lawmakers raised reports of delayed payments to personal assistants during the statewide transition to a single fiscal intermediary, PPL. Krueger reported that about 160,000 of roughly 245,000 personal assistants had moved to the new system and that nearly 10,000 personal assistants had been paid through the first payroll in the new system. She said people still on old fiscal intermediaries that meet certain standards will continue to be paid through those intermediaries, and the Department of Health and a court process are overseeing the transition. Krueger added that regulations about the transition were issued late Tuesday.

Offshore wind and federal actions: Senator Bariello said recent federal decisions affecting offshore wind projects should prompt the state to reallocate funds dedicated to those projects back into the budget. He called offshore wind spending “a multibillion dollar boondoggle” and urged redirecting those dollars to taxpayers. Senator Bariello’s floor remarks were part of broader criticism from some members about the federal role in energy projects.

School aid timing: Krueger said the Senate expects to consider an additional appropriation next Tuesday to ensure school-aid payments, which school districts need to finalize budgets by state deadlines. She said the full budget package remains under negotiation and that a final bottom-line figure had not been set by the Senate and Assembly leadership and the governor.

Vote and next steps: The chamber completed debate, the secretary called the roll, and the extender passed on the supplemental calendar. Senators recorded and explained individual votes on the floor; the measure passed and the Senate adjourned to reconvene April 22 at 11 a.m.

Votes at a glance

- Count number 686 (Assembly bill A8000, substituted for identical Senate print 7459): Motion to accept the message of necessity and appropriation and to pass the supplemental calendar (sixth budget extender). Motion moved by Senator Krueger; outcome: approved. Several senators were named on the floor as recording or explaining their votes, including Senator Bariello (explained vote, in favor), Senator Burrell (recorded in the affirmative), and a recorded negative explanation from Senator Wike/Wight; the chamber reported the bill as passed.

Context and next milestones

Senate leaders said they expected continued negotiations and scheduled the Senate to reconvene April 22. Sponsors suggested a possible vote next week on additional appropriations to secure school-aid payments; they did not provide a final budget bottom line or table targets during the April 16 session.

—Ending—

The Senate adjourned to Tuesday, April 22 at 11 a.m.; intervening days were legislative days.