After much back-and-forthing, Senate Majority Leader Pedro Espada Jr. has formally announced he’ll vote “yes” tomorrow on Gov. David Paterson’s budget extender bill, leaving only one Democratic vote in question.

Espada said in a statement that he “fully expects” to support the extender bill, which Paterson released Friday night, as long as it doesn’t contain any “surprises,” adding:

“We met our objectives last week.”

“We restored legislative participation in the budget process; we eliminated the unilateral and massive cuts imposed by the governor – especially to our children’s classrooms – that would have devastated the same poor and middle income communities already hit hard by the economic crisis, and we restored the focus on a complete fiscal plan for the state, rather than a piecemeal budget.”

“The Senate Democratic leadership will deliver a budget in the next week or so that will include modest borrowing, responsible revenue enhancers, fair distribution of belt-tightening and real hope through job creation programs and some property tax relief to help get our state through these troubled economic waters.”

“State residents are looking to the Legislature not only to restore education and health care cuts and reduce the budget deficit, but demonstrate that we are truly concerned about the future of our children, families and state, not in a piecemeal way but with permanent results.”

“For example, I am advocating for an MTA toll on the East River bridges whose revenue would be used specifically to save the free student MetroCard and restore cuts made to subway and bus service.”

Sen. Ruben Diaz Sr. has said that he would vote “no” on any bill that contained cuts, which this one does.

Senate Democratic Conference Leader John Sampson, however, said through a spokesman earlier today that he’ll have the 32 votes necessary to pass the bill and avoid a government shutdown, while the Republicans signaled their willingness to pick up the slack if necessary.

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