New York State has a new budget on the start of its fiscal year.

The State Assembly approved the $142 billion spending plan early April1, the start of the state fiscal year, after Senate approval late the night before.

State Senator Thomas Libous of Binghamton was not in Albany for the budget negotiations due to back surgery but says he was in contact with colleagues, staff and voters via telephone and email.

Libous praised the budget for keeping the state spending increase under two percent and the increase in funding for schools.

The Republican says the budget also contains investments to help complete Binghamton University's planned development of a pharmacy school in Johnson City.

The new budget also includes new teacher evaluation regulations and an ethics package that requires lawmakers to provide more information about outside income and, if they are attorneys, to disclose their big legal clients unless redacted by state regulators.

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