NYS Capital — The New York State Legislature is expected to vote on their One-House Budget Proposals on Thursday.

As the Democratic Majorities in the Senate and Assembly are expected to pass their budgets, looming a few hundred miles south is New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

The former Democratic Assemblyman’s presence has still been felt at the Capitol in 2026, as the New York State legislature is indeed proposing to increase taxes on New York’s wealthiest income earners, along with NYC corporations, in their budget proposals.

“This budget is going to come down to who has more influence in Albany, the Mayor of New York, or the Governor of New York…who has the political steel to dig in on their what they believe needs to happen in the State of New York,” NYS Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt (R), told reporters on Tuesday. “If the Mayor of New York is the one dictating policy out of Albany, that is bad for people I represent, as much as bad for the people in Staten Island, in my view.”

The Democratic Majority though, says Mamdani has been in the loop throughout the crafting of their One-House budgets.

“We certainly had many conversations with the Mayor’s office about things that we thought, you know, one, were they doable? Some of the proposals were less doable. Two, were they likely to be able to make it through the process here? Some were more likely to than others. Three, were some of them proposed that probably were so unpopular, maybe he should rethink the proposal?” Senator Liz Krueger (D), Chair of the Senate Finance Committee, told reporters on Tuesday.

The final reference there Mamdani’s ultimatum proposal of raising property taxes if the State didn’t tax the rich, which it appears the legislature proposing.

“I think he was very, you know, happy. Well, I don’t know if happy is the word, because, you know, trying to erase a $5 billion deficit, I don’t know if that’s a happy conversation, but I think he he was heartened by the fact that we tried to put forward a One-House that did right by the city of New York,” Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (D) said.

Upstate lawmakers, both on the Democratic and Republican side, have differed on their perspectives on proposals for New York City, along with the tax rate increases for New Yorkers making $5 million or more.

“[Zohran Mamdani]’s been a great champion for this type of progressive tax revenue, but the Mayors in Upstate have also been been asking for additional investment, and so cannot have done this without all of our leaders and our executives across New York that have been asking for additional revenue too,” Assemblymember Gabriella Romero (D-Albany) says.

Full conversation with Asm. Romero:

“I live in Rensselaer County. I represent Rensselaer County, Washington County, Columbia County and the Town of Bethlehem. We are very little compared to New York City. However, a lot of these cities, whether it be New York City, Albany, Buffalo, Binghamton, they’re all being mismanaged, and they’re all have their hands out asking for money. This is a direct result of Albany’s policies, of the state’s policies,” Assemblymember Scott Bendett (R-Averill Park), says.

Full conversation with Asm. Bendett: