As of this writing the legislature of the state of New York, by the grace of God, free and independent, has not yet passed a budget for the 2010-2011 fiscal year. Aside from making the state a laughingstock to the rest of the nation, stalemated budget talks have serious and far-reaching consequences, none of them pleasant.

The state faces a $9.2 billion deficit. To date, legislators and Governor David Paterson say they have agreed to cuts or new taxes that will erase two-thirds of the deficit. However, this accord, meritorious though it may be, has gone nowhere.

Contractors have not been paid for any work performed after April 1, when the state’s new fiscal year began. Paterson has authorized up to $40 million to continue federally funded transportation projects, but only for work that does not include any share of state funds.

Whether the state should borrow to cover operating expenses, and if so, how much, and senate Democrats’ goal of creating a new property tax rebate appear to be the issues causing the bottleneck. Adding to the confusion is the fact that senate Democrats, who hold a 32-30 margin in the senate, are not in unanimous agreement on the property tax rebate plan, which the leaders of the Democratic conference are pushing.

Aside from delaying projects all over the state, the lack of a state budget presents a serious problem for New York City. The city will have to devise its own budget without knowing how much aid it could count on from the state. The budget currently under consideration calls for the state to pay in full $2.6 billion of school aid due at the start of next month. That figure is separate from $2.1 billion of school aid due last month that Paterson delayed to keep the state solvent. The state would pay the $2.1 billion of aid on June 1–if, that is, sufficient cash is available on that date.

Schools and New York’s infrastructure— roads and bridges that need real maintenance—are only two elements of life in New York state that will suffer adverse effects from a long-delayed budget process. Road and bridge construction projects will take longer to complete and more will need to be spent on maintenance because the money to pay for rehabilitation is lacking. Well-run, adequately funded schools are essential to the vital future of this state. Without well-funded schools, potential workers in all industries will not be eager to come to live, raise families— and pay taxes—in New York. The state of the schools in New York City is a cause for concern for the same reason.

It is preposterous that the political bodies involved cannot pass a budget that is absolutely necessary for the continued good and well-being of the people of the state of New York. The legislature and the governor owe it to the voters who put them in office to pass an adequate, fair and fiscally prudent budget as soon as possible.