New York state lawmakers will soon start dissecting Gov. Andrew Cuomo's $145 billion state budget proposal with a series of legislative hearings zeroing in on different parts of the complicated spending blueprint.
The hearings, which are held jointly by the Senate and the Assembly, begin Wednesday with a meeting focusing on transportation spending.
Cuomo's budget recommendation contains significant investments in roads, bridges, airports and transit.
Future hearings will concentrate on taxes, Medicaid, education and economic development, among other topics.
The final hearing is set for Feb. 9.
Lawmakers and Cuomo will negotiate a final budget and aim to have their work wrapped up by March 31, the end of the state's fiscal year.
© 2016 AP
