ALBANY — Legislative leaders Wednesday were nearing a deal on the $142 billion state budget that would include funding for Mayor Bill de Blasio’s ambitious expansion of pre-kindergarten classes in New York City.
“We are closing down issues. Progress is being made,” said Senate co-leader Dean Skelos (R-Nassau).
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D-Manhattan) said he expects to print budget bills by Friday.
That would allow the Legislature to vote on approving the budget — a foregone conclusion once the leaders agree — on Monday, the day before the state’s new fiscal year begins.
The final sticking points in the negotiations included providing extra funding for charter schools to hold classes in private facilities if they’re excluded from sharing space in public-school buildings.