A Valley Viewpoint Narrative
Commentary by Ed Kowalski
Albany loves the word affordability. It appears in speeches, press releases, campaign ads, and budget announcements. But New Yorkers don’t pay their bills with speeches. They pay them with money they worked hard to earn.
And the numbers tell a story Albany would rather talk around.
New York’s all-funds spending has climbed from roughly $212 billion in the FY2022 budget to estimates approaching $277 billion today—an increase of about $65 billion, or roughly 31 percent. The starting budget was enacted before Kathy Hochul became governor, but she has led the state through much of that spending growth. Taxpayers deserve a clear answer: What have we received for all that additional money?
The Citizens Budget Commission’s latest comparison puts New York first in state and local taxes collected per resident—about 71 percent above the national average. That figure is not quite double, as some claims suggest. It is still an extraordinary burden, especially for families watching their paychecks disappear into taxes, fees, and rising costs.
Democrats have dominated Albany for most of the past two decades. To my Democrat friends: At what point do you look at these numbers and ask whether the party you’ve supported is still delivering for you? Where is the payoff?
And while we’re talking about affordability, we should talk honestly about illegal immigration, too. Albany has a responsibility to be transparent about the public cost of services provided to migrants and people who entered the country illegally. What is the state spending, where is that money coming from, and what services are being stretched to cover it? Those are fair questions—especially when New York families are struggling to afford housing, healthcare, and taxes of their own.
New York ranks last in economic freedom in the Cato Institute’s latest index. That ranking does not settle every argument about state policy, but it should make Albany stop and think. Instead, we get another promise that the next program, mandate, or spending increase will finally make life more affordable.
Then there is the disconnect between Albany’s performance and Albany’s compensation. New York lawmakers earn a $142,000 base salary, among the highest in the country. New Yorkers are entitled to ask whether the results justify the paycheck—particularly when household costs keep rising and the state remains near the bottom on economic freedom.
Energy costs show the problem clearly. New York’s electricity prices have been reported at 62 percent above the national average. Utilities have a role in setting rates, but Albany also sets policy. Taxes, fees, regulations, and energy mandates can all affect what customers pay. If state leaders want to talk seriously about affordability, they should examine the costs their own decisions add to the bill.
Here in the Hudson Valley, people feel those choices in practical ways: the electric bill, the property-tax bill, the cost of running a small business, and the growing difficulty of staying in the community where you grew up. These aren’t abstract numbers. They shape whether a family can make ends meet and whether a local employer can afford to hire.
So when Albany advertises a tax cut, read the whole bill. A lower rate in one place can be offset by a new fee, surcharge, or mandate somewhere else. It can feel like a game of tax whack-a-mole: one charge goes down while another quietly appears.
New Yorkers should benchmark this state against the rest of the country and ask what all this spending has delivered. Democrats who care about working families should be willing to ask that question, too. Party loyalty should never mean giving Albany a blank check.
Affordability is not a slogan. It is the money left after the bills are paid. By that measure, Albany has a lot to answer for.
