Gov. Kathy Hochul’s administration is considering cutting state spending on the migrant crisis in the future, arguing that the “unsustainable” situation could negatively impact other areas of the state budget.
In a memo obtained by our channel, the state budget director, Blake Washington assures that the cost of caring for immigrants is “unsustainable” and could have a negative effect on other areas of the state budget.
“New York’s ability to pay for these programs is not unlimited. As you know, the governor has publicly stated that we are committed to balancing a budget without raising taxes or relying on one-time reserves to fund recurring obligations,” he added.
From Washington they suggest that the state limit spending on legal services, case management and efforts to connect immigrants with jobs, instead of continuing to pay for more expensive ones, such as temporary hotel rooms.
This comes after The DOB reported that the State will spend almost $2 billion on the immigrant crisis through next April, which is $358 million more than the $1.5 billion currently being spent.
It includes footing the bill for expenses tied to a 12-month lease at Brooklyn’s federally owned Floyd Bennett Field, which is slated to become the next large-scale migrant shelter.
The governor indicated that although Albany will maintain the commitments made to the Adams administration in last year’s budget, the state still needs to control spending.
Nearly 120,000 people have arrived in the five boroughs since spring 2022, and the Adams administration currently houses about 65,000 families with children and single adults in taxpayer-funded shelters.
