The New York State budget will officially be late. Negotiations between New York State legislative leaders and the governor are ongoing, and critical questions are still on the table, including:

• A potential $454 million cut to school district aid, proposed by Gov. Hochul;

• A more than $1 billion cut to Medicaid programs included in the governor’s budget, including cutting home care workers’ wages and providing fewer in-home services to people with disabilities and the elderly;

• A 50 percent cut to clean water infrastructure, proposed by the governor;

• The Housing Access Voucher Program, included in Senate and Assembly budget proposals, to prevent evictions and house homeless New Yorkers;

• $2 billion in new revenue, proposed by the legislature, through increasing income taxes on people earning more than $5 million and corporate taxes on the top 0.1% most profitable corporations.

New Yorkers need and deserve a moral budget that makes sure the super-rich pay their fair share in taxes and that invests meaningfully in housing, healthcare, education, the safety net, clean air and water, and living wages.

Knowing how much is at stake for our communities - especially for poor and low-income New Yorkers - religious leaders from across our state will be holding a 24-hour continuous prayer vigil from 11:00 am April 1 until 11:00 am April 2.

Please RSVP to join us for a virtual vigil and press conference to close this time of prayer. You'll receive the Zoom link once you register. All are welcome!

Funded in part by a Peace with Justice Grant from the Upper New York Conference, United Methodist Church