ALBANY, NY (WUTR/WFXV/WPNY) – The New York State budget is once again going down to the wire, and New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli warned legislators on Friday, March 31 what could happen if the budget does not meet its April 3 deadline.

“The Governor and Legislature are discussing many important issues as they work to finalize the state budget, but they need to find common ground and resolve them soon. In these uncertain times, New Yorkers need a spending plan that supports our state’s continued economic recovery, provides for those in need and still struggling from the pandemic’s impacts, and bolsters reserves to ensure the sustainability of services,” DiNapoli said in a statement.

The Comptroller warned Governor Kathy Hochul and legislative leaders in March that the budget needed to be passed by Monday, April 3 for the institutional payroll to be made the following Wednesday, April 5. This would affect about 57,000 state workers that work in such areas as the Department of Corrections, the state Office of Mental Health and some state Education Department facilities.

If a final agreement is not reached by April 5, lawmakers can pass a budget extender, which would ensure that institutional workers are paid by Thursday, April 6.

Even more pressing for legislators is their own pay. If a budget is not passed by Friday, March 31, then the Comptroller is required to withhold legislators’ salaries until one is passed. Their next pay date is on Wednesday, April 12.

If a budget is not in place by Monday, April 10, then the administrative payroll will be impacted. This payroll covers approximately 83,000 employees in various offices across the state and would be delayed if a budget cannot be passed by April 10.