NYS lawmakers sign off on budget for BX, state

Lawmakers are finalizing the state budget Sunday after narrowly missing the deadline Saturday.
Governor Eliot Spitzer (D-NY) and lawmakers are putting the finishing touches on the $121 billion budget, which includes money for uninsured Bronx and city children. About 400,000 children will receive benefits through a program, however the budget also cuts Medicaid by $1 billion.
The budget increases state aid to city schools to $1.8 billion and creates 50 new charter schools in the city. A $1.3 billion property tax rebate was also included in the budget.
Spitzer argues the budget was on time because everything was agreed on, however documents were not printed in time.