Governor Ned Lamont’s $55 billion two-year budget plan includes a 5% fare increase for Metro-North commuters and an additional $50 in property tax relief for homeowners. The proposal expands early childhood education while cutting hundreds of millions from local school construction grants. Lamont also aims to eliminate licensing fees for various professions, including nurses and electricians. The budget now heads to state lawmakers for negotiations ahead of the June 4 deadline.