[What you need to know to start the day: Get New York Today in your inbox.] ALBANY — After New York State leaders reached a deal on a new $175 billion budget, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo praised it as “the best budget” of his tenure. The Assembly speaker, Carl E. Heastie, called elements of it “critical” and “historic.” Yet on Monday, as the Legislature finished approving the budget, some progressive lawmakers were furious. Several assembly members who voted for the budget bill listed what they saw as failures and said that there was “not a lot we should smile about.” A senator wrote on Twitter that she had cried as the votes were being counted. Many spoke on the floor against the revenue portion of the budget, which contained the bulk of the policy; 17 Democrats in the Assembly voted against it — a number unseen in the past eight years of Mr. Cuomo’s tenure.<doc-sep>ALBANY - State leaders announced Sunday they reached a budget deal just in time for the fiscal year that starts Monday. Lawmakers were at the state Capitol on Sunday and were working through the night passing budget bills in hopes of having an on-time budget. The $175.5 billion plan, Gov. Andrew Cuomo and legislative leaders announced, includes an array of deals, but leaves a few major decisions undone — such as legalizing marijuana and creating a board to decide how to publicly finance political campaigns. The sides hailed the final package. Cuomo said the budget needed to be "fiscally responsible and protect New York from the federal government's ongoing economic assault on our state. I am proud to announce that together, we got it done." Here are the highlights: The numbers behind the numbers The budget keeps spending to 2 percent and continues a middle-class tax cut. It would increase school aid by 3.8 percent to $27.9 billion, the most of any state in the nation. And spending on Medicaid, which serves about 6 million New Yorkers, and all health-care spending would grow 3.6 percent to $19.6 billion. Another impetus for an on-time budget: Raises for Cuomo and lawmakers are tied to it getting done by the deadline. More:Legalized marijuana in New York will have to wait Permanent tax cap Cuomo vowed to not agree to a budget without making the tax cap, first approved in 2011, permanent. He got his wish. The cap will be made permanent: It limits the growth in property taxes to 2 percent or lower each year, depending on the rate of inflation. More:Property-tax cap in New York expected to be made permanent Reforming Criminal Justice This was also a requirement for Cuomo and the Democratic-led Legislature The package includes ending cash bail in most cases, except for some violent felonies. Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, D-Bronx, said it would end cash bail for at least 80 percent of all arrests in New York. The problem, critics said, is that having cash bail made it difficult for those arrested to get out of jail as they await the adjudication of their cases. Another change: Cases would need to be brought to trial sooner. Fixes to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Long derided for delayed subways and trains, the MTA will face an overhaul in the budget. The transit system for New York City and its suburbs would need to have a reorganization plan by June, change the way it appoints board members and conduct an independent audit. More:Police could withhold mugshots, arrest records under New York budget deal Congestion pricing in Manhattan To fund the MTA's needs, the budget includes a new congestion tolling plan for midtown and lower Manhattan, south of 60th Street. To figure out the tolls and which bridges into Manhattan would be exempted from the tolls, the budget includes the establishment of a six-member Traffic Mobility Review Board. For example, Hudson Valley lawmakers want the Gov. Mario Cuomo Bridge exempted from "double tolling." The tolling wouldn't start until 2021. Also to fund the MTA, a "mansion tax" was set to be approved on sales of homes in Manhattan valued at $25 million or above. Another funding source: An internet sales tax that will fund the MTA and provide revenue to local governments. More:Hudson Valley poised to get piece of congestion-pricing revenue A board for public financing of campaigns Cuomo and lawmakers couldn't agree on a campaign pledge to create a system of public financing for those running for office. The goal is take big money out of politics, but critics said taxpayers' money shouldn't go to fund campaigns. Without a deal, the sides agreed to establish a public-financing commission that would have the power to develop and implement the system. The goal is to budget $100 million annually in public funds for the program. The commission would have to report back by Dec. 1. Closing up to three prisons First, Cuomo proposed closing three prisons this year. Then the initial budget bills said two would close. Finally, new budget language again showed up to three prisons. Cuomo and his aides said Sunday the budget will, in fact, allow for up to three closures. But it will depend on how they get to the 1,200 beds they want to shutter to save $35 million this fiscal year. So it could mean closing either two or three facilities, which the state has yet to name. More:New York to close two prisons as part of state budget, but where? Making the Affordable Care Act state law Fearing the federal repeal of so-called Obamacare, New York plans to codify its state health exchange into law. So even if the federal government goes ahead with its repeal threat, New York would still have its New York State of Health, which serves more than 4.7 million residents. More:Enrollment starts for existing customers on New York’s health exchange Plastic bags are out Already agreed to last week, New York would ban single-use plastic bags and allow counties and cities to opt in to a 5-cent fee on paper bags. The money raised from the fee will go toward reusable bag program and the state's Environmental Protection Fund. More:NY's plastic bag ban: How will it work? When does it take effect? Voting reforms added The budget adds to changes made earlier this year. They include mandating three hours of paid time off for all New Yorkers to vote on Election Day; enacting online voter registration, expanding upstate voting hours to begin at 6 a.m. instead of noon. New laws for limos After the deadly limo crash in Schoharie last October that killed 20, Cuomo vowed to crack down on the industry. The budget includes measures that would make it a class E felony for knowingly operating a limo where such operation causes the death of another person. It also adds new civil penalties and insurance requirements. But it doesn't include an outright stretch limo ban that Cuomo initially proposed. More:After most deadly crash in a decade, limo rules still haphazard as prom season nears Money for the Census count Immigrant groups in particular wanted state aid to make sure that all New Yorkers are counted in the upcoming census. They wanted as much as $40 million. The budget includes $20 million. More:New York lawmakers face deadline: Pass a timely budget, get a pay raise More:New York to close two prisons as part of state budget, but where? More:Cuomo 2022? Governor hints at running for a fourth term<doc-sep>When Cuomo proposed closing up to three state prisons, the Division of Budget estimated it would eliminate at least 1,200 beds and save the state at least $35 million. Some state lawmakers, particularly those who represent upstate districts, criticized the latest push to close prisons. State Sen. Pam Helming, whose district includes Five Points Correctional Facility in Seneca County, expressed concern about the potential impact on communities if prisons are shuttered. For several upstate communities, correctional facilities are among the largest employers. The New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association, the union representing state correctional officers, criticized the plan to close two prisons. NYSCOPBA President Michael Powers believes additional closures will make the prison system more dangerous. He contends that closing prisons will lead to overcrowding at remaining facilities and lead to increased violence. Powers also disputed the assertion that there won't be layoffs. The Cuomo administration has said that it would allow employees affected by the closures to transfer to other facilities or seek other positions within DOCCS.<doc-sep>
Gov. Cuomo made sure he got the last word on the scuttled Amazon deal, by ramming last minute changes to the state’s Public Authorities Control Board as part of the state’s $175.5 billion spending plan. Buried deep within a lengthy budget bill grants the governor oversight to remove unruly members from the board — a not so shy slight to famed Amazon opponent, state Senator Michael Gianaris (D-Queens). “As the appointing authority, the governor has the full discretion to immediately remove a member of the board he or she finds to be acting, or threatening to act, beyond the scope of such member’s legal authority set forth herein,” the amendment to the law reads. “It’s not oversight, it’s the ability to remove,” Cuomo defended himself to reporters Sunday evening. “…the law, no one bothered to read. The authority is to review the financial sufficiency of the issuing entity. I can’t be a PACB member and say ‘I don’t like Amazon.’ That is beyond my legal authority.” “You had this local political interest that just aborted the project. That is a problem.” Cuomo argued the board’s authority lies only to approve financial sufficiency of economic development projects, not political or personal discretion. “It doesn’t mean you get to violate the law on an independent board,” he added. But Gianaris was never officially appointed. Gov. Cuomo did not accept his nomination made by state Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D-Westchester). State Senator Leroy Comrie (D-Queens) is the state Senate’s current nominee. A reporter joked on Twitter it’s “the Anti-Amazon Agitator Act.”