Governor, Legislators Reach Agreement on Budget

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and legislative leaders on March 27 announced agreement on a 2012-2013 state budget that includes $27.7 million to give judges their first raise in 13 years and $25 million for a civil legal services initiative. The agreement adopts without change the Judiciary’s $2.3 billion budget, which cuts spending by .15 percent. Although the spending plan must still be approved by both houses of the Legislature and signed by the governor, observers said it is a done deal.

Under the Judiciary’s budget: judges will receive a 17 percent raises effective April 1, the first installment of a three-year, phased in 27 percent pay hike; non-judicial employees will receive contractually required raises; funding for a civil legal service initiative will double, to $25 million; and overtime restrictions that resulted in early court closing times will be relaxed. The budget does not include the $10,000 supplemental stipend judges received this year in recognition of their years without a pay raise. The stipend could be added later.