ALBANY — Both of Cattaraugus County elected state legislators voted against the 2025-2026 state budget of $254.3 billion
Assemblyman Joe Sempolinski, R-Canisteo, said he voted against the state budget because of its “outrageous levels of spending and its failure to prioritize protecting vulnerable New Yorkers.”
Sempolinski said, “I voted NO. I was frustrated both with the irresponsible level of spending and with the misplaced priorities within that spending. I had pushed for making the pay of those who care for the disabled and mentally ill whole, relative to inflation. That didn’t happen. Instead, we spent on things like tax breaks for Hollywood.”
Sempolinski said he had advocated for true a cost-of-living increase in the budget for workers who provide services to New Yorkers with intellectual and developmental disabilities .
“This budget is more than a quarter of a trillion dollars. Yet in all that spending, the governor and the Democrat majority couldn’t find a way to give meaningful wages to workers who care for the most vulnerable among us, people with disabilities and mental health challenges. But they were able to find $100 million for people who make movies,” he said. “It’s a graphic example of where their priorities lie despite all their rhetoric and all their platitudes about caring for vulnerable New Yorkers.”
At $254.3 billion dollars, this is the largest budget in state history, an increase of $12.9 billion over last year’s state budget.
“We heard a lot from Gov. Hochul about fiscal responsibility and dealing with New York’s affordability crisis, but in the end what we’re getting is another bloated state budget, a tax and spend free-for-all negotiated behind closed doors by three people in a room,” Sempolinski said.
“This budget will inevitably drive more businesses and jobs out of New York,” he said. “Making New York a more affordable, attractive place for people and businesses starts with drafting a responsible state budget that cuts overall spending. That’s not what happened here.”
State Sen. George Borrello, R-Sunset Bay, who also voted against the budget, found a bright spot or two.
“This year’s budget was a missed opportunity — a chance to confront New York’s affordability crisis, restore public safety, and rebuild public trust. Instead, Albany delivered more of the same,” Borrello said in a press statement.
“At $254 billion, this is the largest and one of the most irresponsible budgets in state history,” Borrello said. “While families struggle with rising costs and small businesses fight to survive, this plan adds to the burden. Modest wins like a small tax cut and one-time ‘inflation refunds’ will be quickly offset by the long-term damage of the runaway spending. You can’t fix affordability by growing government at such a scale.”
Borrello said, “The failures extend beyond the bottom line. The Governor promised meaningful discovery reform to fix the flood of criminal case dismissals under the 2019 law and the resulting harm caused to public safety. Instead, we got a watered-down tweak that won’t make a real difference. Her proposed mask ban, meant to deter masked agitators and criminals and aid law enforcement, was similarly gutted. The kind of lawless takeover we saw this week at Columbia University will happen again and again. Once again, public safety took a back seat to political appeasement.”
The senator said, “There are a few bright spots. The budget finally expands involuntary commitment standards and strengthens Kendra’s Law—provisions similar to legislation I’ve championed for years. These changes are overdue and may save lives. It also pays off the state’s $7 billion unemployment insurance debt, offering long-awaited relief for small businesses. But let’s not forget: those same businesses have spent the past five years unfairly footing the bill while Albany failed to act.”
But, Borrello noted, “Any goodwill is undermined by one of the most outrageous provisions in the budget: $10 million in taxpayer funds set aside to cover the private legal fees for state officials, including Attorney General Letitia James, if she faces federal prosecution for mortgage fraud. The actions being investigated involve a personal financial transaction and have nothing to do with her role as Attorney General. She should pay for her own defense. Taxpayers should never be forced to bankroll the personal legal troubles of political elites.”
“This budget is a monument to mismanagement — a missed opportunity to deliver real reform, real relief, and real results,” Borrello said. “Every year, Albany excuses a late budget by promising it will be ‘worth the wait.’ This year, once again, it wasn’t.”
