NEW YORK- Lawmakers finalized New York’s $168 billion 2018-19 spending plan early Saturday morning, less than 24 hours before the April 1st deadline. Senator Joseph Griffo and Assemblyman Anthony Brindisi made their way back to Central New York after voting in favor of the 2019 spending plan.
“What I liked about what we did today was that we invested money into education,” said Sen. Joseph Griffo. “I believe the investment in our infrastructure was highly important especially when you see so many communities that are struggling."

Sen. Griffo told WKTV in his 10th year of voting one thing never changes; voting on the floor late at night.
“What I don’t like is the process,” said Griffo. “It’s still a terrible process in the wee hours of the morning.”
The budget passed through the New York State Senate at roughly 1:00 a.m Saturday morning. According to Griffo’s office, it did not pass the Assembly until roughly 4 a.m.
Griffo was not the only one on the floor Saturday morning, as Assemblyman Anthony Brindisi was in attendance as well.
“The best parts of the budget for me are the increases in the schools for Mohawk Valley,” said Brindisi. “There has been increases in infrastructure for our roads and a big part of it deals with the opioid crisis which is what I support."
The Assemblyman did disagree on the budget as well, as he does not believe that legislators should see a pay increase.
“At a time when many working families haven't seen an increase [in pay] I just think it is wrong that for them to even talk about this,” said Brindisi.
The 2018-19 budget could be put into effect as early as Fall of 2018.