ALBANY (AP) -- Gov. Andrew Cuomo and New York's Legislature are planning a flurry of negotiations to adopt a budget earlier than the April 1 deadline.
They've already agreed on most of the budget.
Cuomo and the Senate Republican and Assembly's Democratic majorities agreed to 4 percent increases in school aid and health care a year ago. That was a deal to soften reaction to the cuts in the current budget that expires March 31.
The agreement on what amounts to well over half of Cuomo's proposed $132 billion budget is reflected in the unusually small divide in budget positions. Senate Republicans propose to spend a little less, Assembly Democrats want to spend a little more.
The governor can impose his budget in emergency spending bills if there's no agreement before the deadline.
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