ALBANY (AP) -- New York's Legislature finally did it, passing a state budget four months late, but avoiding the latest budget passage ever.
In the end, Democratic Sen. William Stachowski of Buffalo who has withheld his budget vote since June to force action on a proposal to empower state universities changed his mind.
Instead of a law, the proposal became a nonbinding "framework" as negotiations continue. The proposal was intended to empower the State University of New York and City University of New York to have greater autonomy from Albany.
Now that the budget is finally approved, lawmakers can begin to collect their pay withheld since the budget deadline on April 1.
The Democrat-led Assembly had already passed its budget bills in June at the end of the regular session.
So what does the budget mean for you? Click here for a breakdown.
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