🏛️ JSA2026 Budget Reform Plan: Fixing What Albany Broke ObjectiveTo expose the failures of Governor Hochul's FY2026 budget and present a bold, fiscally grounded, people-first alternative that reflects the values of a real commonwealth. This post outlines where the current proposal falls short and how JSA2026 will build a state budget that actually works for working New Yorkers. 🔍 What’s Wrong with Hochul’s FY2026 Budget Outyear Budget Gaps IgnoredProjected deficits rise from $6.5B (FY27) to $11B (FY29) — and Hochul offers no structural fixes. One-Time Inflation Refund Gimmicks$3B in short-term refunds, no plan to combat rising costs at the root. Medicaid Is Ballooning, No ReformsMedicaid exceeds $105B — no cost caps, no efficiency incentives, no fraud crackdown. Still Dependent on High-Income Tax ExtensionsAlbany banking on wealthy residents staying in NY while raising their taxes to cover middle-class relief. Overreliance on Reserves & PTET Timing TricksKicking the can with budget rollovers and temporary credits instead of confronting the revenue gap. Acknowledges Risks, But Takes No ActionInflation, labor shortages, tariffs, immigration, and climate costs are all admitted in the forecast — but there’s no budgetary response. Commercial Real Estate Collapse Not AddressedOffice vacancy and real estate defaults threaten NYC’s tax base, but the state offers no backup plan. No Adjustments to Population Loss or Labor DeclineWorkforce growth expected to fall to 0.7%. No plan to retain or attract talent. ✅ The JSA2026 Budget Plan: Real Fixes, Not Fantasy 1. Freeze and Phase Down Top-End Spending Growth• Cap Medicaid increases at 3% per year unless offset by fraud recovery or managed care performance. • Pause automatic education aid hikes in districts with shrinking enrollment. 2. Redirect Refund Gimmicks Into Permanent Cost Relief• End inflation refund giveaways. • Replace with permanent utility tax rollback and fuel fee cap. 3. Tax Reform That Rewards Working Families, Not Budget Loopholes• Phase out PTET gimmick by 2028. • Flatten tax brackets while eliminating carveouts that favor connected industries. 4. Build the Commonwealth Reserve• Codify a 5% revenue holdback into law. • No more “emergency” use of rainy-day funds to cover recurring costs. 5. Launch Operation Efficiency• Department-by-department review to cut administrative overhead by 10% in 3 years. • Consolidate overlapping state agencies. 6. Reclaim Dormant State Assets• Use Operation Ghost Town to lease or repurpose empty jails, unused office buildings, and surplus school properties. • Revenue redirected into housing, mental health, and infrastructure. 7. Empower Local Tax Autonomy Through SEZs & LEZs• Special Empowerment Zones allow localities to raise or lower certain taxes tied to performance. • School Empowerment Zones pilot local education tax control. 8. Create a Budget Risk Dashboard• Real-time public tracker of inflation, labor, real estate defaults, and revenue performance. • Transparency portal so citizens can see risk before it hits their wallets. ⚠️ Why It Matters • NY’s budget shortfall is not theoretical — it’s guaranteed unless we act.• One-time tricks, federal dependence, and political games have made Albany addicted to delay.• Every household will be impacted when debt rises, services collapse, or new taxes are rushed through.• JSA2026 is the only campaign building a pre-emptive, real-world plan — not waiting for crisis to hit. 🔚 Conclusion The FY2026 budget is a glittering shell hiding structural rot. JSA2026 offers the only alternative built on restraint, reality, and results. We don’t need more bailouts — we need a better blueprint. 🗽 I’m not a good candidate. I’m the right one.📍 full 10 vol. plan @ https://jsa2026.com/newsroom/campaign-post/ #JSA2026 #BudgetReform #FixTheGaps #NoMoreGimmicks #FiscalTruth #CommonwealthEconomics #NYDeservesBETTR