Lawmakers in Albany are hunkered down going over their state budget proposals as negotiations shape up to be tense in the coming weeks. Both the state Senate and Assembly are expected to soon release what is known as their one-house budgets — a statement of priorities for each house.

One area of disagreement between the governor and legislative Democrats is her proposal to increase the number of charter schools in the city.

“The argument that this takes away money from public schools is not true. I’m just responding to parents who want choice, especially in Black and brown communities,” Gov. Kathy Hochul told reporters during a storm briefing Monday. “And it's hard to say no to those individuals who just want to have a decision.”

Sources say both one-house budget proposals from the two houses do not include Hochul’s charter plan.

“Unless this industry, and we are talking about the corporate charters, wants transparency, wants to serve all children, until they want to do that, these are not real educators,” Michael Mulgrew, the president of the United Federation of Teachers, said.

The one-house budget proposals were expected to be in print Sunday night, but that could be pushed back to Tuesday morning, with a vote scheduled for Thursday. After that is when the real budget negotiations begin.

One-house budget from @NYSA_Majority reworks housing policy proposed by @GovKathyHochul

Instead of overriding local zoning, it will offer $500 Million to local governments to incentivize affordable housing development. “It’s a carrot rather than a stick,” says one insider

— Zack Fink (@ZackFinkNews) March 13, 2023

This comes as Hochul on Monday decided to scrap a controversial plan supported by her predecessor that would have brought AirTrain service to LaGuardia Airport. It was joyful news for opponents of the project.

The price tag on bringing AirTrain service to LaGuardia ballooned to more than $2 billion — up from its original estimate of less than $500 million.

It also faced fierce opposition from critics who said the plan, and the train route itself, made no logistical sense.

“Well, it’s so refreshing to see government change course, admit a mistake and choose something better before it’s too late,” Danny Pearlstein of Riders Alliance said.

The AirTrain was championed by former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, but when he resigned in 2021, Hochul ordered a review of the project. The decision now is to walk away from it, and instead improve bus service to the airport.

“I am grateful to the expert panel, the technical consultants and the Port Authority for providing a clear, cost-effective path forward with an emissions-free transit solution for customers,” Hochul said in a statement.