Bonuses for health workers, property tax rebates and tax cuts are just some of the things packed into Gov. Kathy Hochul’s 2023 state budget proposal. 

The proposed state budget is $216 billion. "We need to embrace this moment of possibility and use it to redefine New York's destiny,” said Hochul. 

A big focus is rebuilding the health care and teacher workforces. This would be the largest investment in health care in state history at $10 billion. 

"They're the heroes of this pandemic, so let's stop talking about the debt we owe them and actually pay them what they deserve. And that includes more than $1 billion in bonuses,” said Hochul. 

Infrastructure is also getting a big boost with a $32.8 billion investment. 

"One way we'll do that is by reconnecting neighborhoods that were severed by asphalt highways, and these all disproportionately impacted communities of color, like the Kensington Expressway in Buffalo, I-81 in Syracuse, the Inner Loop in Rochester, and the Cross Bronx Expressway,” said Hochul. 

“At a time when inflation is robbing families of long-awaited gains and income and recognizing that property taxes are still too high, we will provide a $2 billion property tax rebate to more than 2 million middle-class homeowners,” said Hochul. 

Hochul says this is a balanced budget. However, there is some concern about the proposal. 

“While the state’s budget includes many necessary investments, these expenditures are buoyed by one-time federal investment rather than a long-term commitment to a renewed deal for New York," said Public Advocate Jumaane Willians, who is running against Hochul. 

The budget proposal now heads to the Legislature.