By TimesLedger Staff
The state Legislature and Gov. Andrew Cuomo came to a budget deal Thursday night that would raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour in New York City by 2018.
The increase from $9 an hour would be phased in for Long Island and Westchester residents over a six-year period and capped at $12.50 by 2021 in areas north of Westchester.
As part of the agreement on the 2016-17 budget, paid family leave will take effect gradually over the next four years and provide up to 12 weeks of pay. Workers will contribute to the program.
CUNY tuition will be frozen at current levels, but the both the city university system and its state counterpart will be required to cut spending.
Under the accord, the MTA will be given $1.5 billion for the Second Avenue subway over the next eight years.
Member of the state Legislature must still vote on the budget proposal, which means the budget was not passed by the April 1 deadline. But members were expectedto approve the deal Friday.
