Metro

Albany almost done with budget – early!

ALBANY — Gov. Cuomo and legislative leaders are moving toward a historically early new state budget that is expected to include an extra boost in school aid, including funds for New York City.

Cuomo and lawmakers agreed to add up to $290 million in school aid statewide beyond the 4 percent increase included in the governor’s $142.6 billion budget proposal in January.

Sources said the pols have also discussed extending the top 8.82 percent income-tax rate on seven-figure earners beyond its scheduled expiration at the end of 2014 — Cuomo’s re-election year — as part of an effort to craft two-year budget components.

Sources indicated a strong push to include an increase in New York’s $7.25-an-hour minimum wage as part of the budget. But with Senate Republicans apprehensive, Cuomo and legislative leaders insisted the issue remains unresolved.

The pols said inclusion of a casino proposal in the budget that they hope to wrap up Thursday — before this year’s early Passover holiday — also remains possible.But Deputy Senate Republican Leader Thomas Libous said he doesn’t think voters will approve a constitutional amendment in November to legalize up to seven casinos unless there are more proposed this year — though not necessarily in the city.

Cuomo wants to limit new casinos to three upstate at first.