Officials: State leaders reach budget deal

ALBANY -- Lawmakers have agreed to a state budget that will boost education spending by $1.1 billion, or 5 percent, for the 2014-15 fiscal year -- about $300 million more than Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo proposed in January, officials said Saturday.

Cuomo and legislators said they signed off on a deal and began printing budget bills just before midnight Friday. Voting on the budget by rank-and-file legislators likely would begin Monday -- technically, the budget is supposed to be enacted by midnight that night to be considered 'on time.'

The budget deal will also include a limited element of public financing of campaigns. The governor and legislators agreed to impose public financing on the race for state comptroller, though officials didn't immediately clarify whether they would try to make it effective for this year's contest.

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Much of the broad details about school spending had been agreed to days before. Of the $1.1 billion addition, $300 million will be allocated to expand prekindergarten in New York City, and $40 million to expand prekindergarten on Long Island and upstate, legislators said.

The agreement also includes Cuomo's proposal to put before voters this fall a $2 billion education bond act. If approved, the money would be spent on school facilities.

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