Fiscal Year 2023 State Budget Recap

Last weekend, the delayed Fiscal Year 2023 State budget deal, totaling approximately $220 billion in spending, was passed. Read the Governor's press release on the budget, here.

Below, see investments related to LiveOn NY advocacy priorities and of note to our sector:

  • $500 Million for Cost of Living Adjustments (COLAs), at 5.4%, for state contracted human services workers, the first significant COLA in years. This was the result of the Human Services Council led Just Pay campaign, which LiveOn NY is proud to support. We will continue to work to follow implementation of this investment, which will take time and will determine exactly which workers are covered under this investment. In addition to this State investment, it is critical that the City also provide a COLA for human services workers in its budget.

  • $25 Billion 5 year housing plan, including $300 million for affordable senior housing. The plan seeks to create and preserve over 100,000 affordable homes, including 10,000 homes with supportive services for targeted populations.

  • $110 Million for the Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative (ESSHI).

  • $3 hourly raise for home care workers, phased in over two years, a meager response to the Fair Pay for Home Care campaign, which called for home care wages to be set at a minimum of 150% of the minimum wage.

  • $50 Million for the Nonprofit Infrastructure Capital Investment Program.

  • $800 Million for Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP).

  • $250 Million for utility arrears.

  • $2.25 Million increase for the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program (LTCOP), significantly lower than the $20 million sought.

  • $500,000 to support the creation of a Master Plan on Aging.

  • Medicare Savings Program income eligibility limits will increase from 135% to 186% of the federal poverty level in January 2023. Learn more, here.

  • Eligibility Expanded for Medicaid for undocumented older adults age 65+. Learn more, here.

Thank you to everyone who joined our advocacy this year, during which time more than 400 messages were sent to elected officials in support of new funding for aging services. In future years, we remain committed to advocating for items not included in this budget, such as new investments in home-delivered meals, case management, and services in senior housing.

LiveOn NY continues to analyze the budget for additional details of interest to our sector, and will share as new details emerge.

Questions? Please contact Katelyn Andrews, Director of Public Policy and External Affairs, at kandrews@liveon-ny.org