Congestion Pricing Likely After NY Leaders Agree Budget Plan

NEW YORK – Congestion pricing looks set to start charging New Yorkers to enter Manhattan beginning Dec. 31, 2020 after leaders of the state's Senate and Assembly reached a last-minute budget agreement early Sunday.

The move is estimated to bring in $15 billion that is earmarked for MTA improvements to the subway, the Long Island Railroad and Metro North.

The agreement was announced in a joint statement released by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins shortly after midnight. It's expected to be voted on by lawmakers later Sunday.

The congestion charge would affect passenger vehicles entering Manhattan below 60th Street and also has the support of Mayor Bill de Blasio. Details of how much the toll would be have not yet been decided.

Other items agreed on in the budget include:

• A progressive"mansion tax" that would hit properties that sell for more than $25 million with a rate as high as 4.15 percent.
• Sweeping changes to the criminal justice system that would eliminate bail for misdemeanors and non-violent felonies. Police officers must issue desk appearance tickets to most people charged with misdemeanors and Class E felonies, rather than making a custodial arrest.
• The state's 2 percent property tax cap would become permanent.
• Education spending would go up by 3.8 percent, to $27.9 billion.

"From the beginning, I said we will not do a budget that fails to address three major issues that have evaded this state for decades - the permanent property tax cap, criminal justice reform and an MTA overhaul including Central Business District Tolling," said Cuomo.

"I also said this budget must be done right - meaning it must be fiscally responsible and protect New York from the federal government's ongoing economic assault on our state. I am proud to announce that together, we got it done.