Legislature Agrees to Spending Deal
By Associated Press | April 9, 2008
ALBANY — Although they missed the goal of an on-time budget to help put an unprecedented month of scandal and turmoil behind them, the Senate and Assembly struck a tentative agreement yesterday on spending bills in a $124 billion state budget scheduled to be approved today. The budget was due April 1. The tentative agreement negotiated behind closed doors would increase spending 4.5% and includes $1.1 billion in capital projects statewide. A record $1.8 billion increase in school aid — to a total of about $20 billion, is also included. And despite the nearly $5 billion deficit and declining revenues.
