State Budget Could Pass on Time for Third Straight Year

State senator James Seward Monday commented on passage of a senate budget resolution for fiscal year 2013-2014.

"For the third straight year, we are on track to pass a budget on time and the earliest budget in more than 30 years," Seward said. "It's one that focuses on job creation, education aid for our neediest schools and tax relief for middle class families.

"The Senate version of the budget is a sensible plan that keeps state spending in check while at the same time providing funds for critical programs that New Yorkers rely on," he added.

In the Assembly, the Democratic majority topped off programs designed to assist in Superstorm Sandy recovery with $200 million.

It also sought to restore almost $40 million in aid to needy families and boosted school funding by $334 million over Governor Andrew Cuomo’s budget proposal, including $240 million in school aid to New York City that the governor took away because of the failure by the city and its teachers unions to reach agreement on an evaluation plan.