ALBANY -- Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced his annual budget proposal Tuesday for the upcoming fiscal year.
The budget attempts to fund numerous state funded programs and projects while trying to close a gap of $4.4 billion.
The $168 billion budget includes a 2 percent increase for the eighth year in a row -- keeping Cuomo's pledge to limit annual growth.
Some of the proposals include:
About $750 million in taxes and fees: Funds raised through opioid taxes; corporation windfall tax credit; internet sales.
$26.6 billion for school aid: An increase of $7.6 million, up 3 percent, from last year.
Payroll tax: Cuomo is considering switching New York from an income-tax system to a payroll-tax system to skirt new federal limits on tax deductions.
$1.9 billion increase for energy and environment spending: An increase of $142 million, up 8 percent.
$70 billion for Medicaid: That includes federal aid, an increase of $1.7 billion or 2.5 percent.
$7.4 billion for higher education: An increase of $103 million from last year, but a 2.4 percent cut to community colleges, which have had shrinking enrollment.
$1.3 Billion in property tax relief: The program will be fully phased-in during the upcoming fiscal year and have an average credit of $530 for homeowners who are income eligible.
Local government aid: It would remain at $715 million for cities, town and villages. Unchanged since 2008.
$254 million: To implement the MTA Subway Action Plan to help pay for repairs to the New York City transit system.
Recreational marijuana: A study will be conducted to determine whether New York should join other Northeastern states in legalizing and taxing the drug -- which is legal in New York in non-smokeable forms for medical purposes.