Rensselaer County Officials on County, State and Local Levels Join to Oppose Deep Cuts in State Funding for Road Maintenance and Repair Included in Governor’s Budget
Cuts by Governor Would Reduce Local Roads Funding by $100 Million and Reduce Work on Local Roads and Bridges Across the State
Rensselaer County officials joined with members of the State Assembly and State Senate and town officials in strongly stating opposition to proposed cuts in state funding for local road repair and improvement projects during a press conference today at the county Highway Department’s main garage in North Greenbush.
The Governor’s budget proposal includes a reduction of $100 million in assistance to counties, towns and villages, with the dramatic reduction occurring in the third year of a five-year plan.
"Residents and businesses across New York State deserve and depend on a safe, effective and responsive road network. For the Governor to propose a $100 million cut in local road assistance is completely unrealistic, given the vast importance of the service. Restoring road funding needs to be a priority as the state budget process moves forward, instead of the costly progressive programs that only benefit downstate interests," said Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin.
McLaughlin noted that Rensselaer County has seen major success in improving county roads, with 255 miles of county roads paved in just six years. However, a reduction in state funding in the coming budget would significantly hamper the ability of counties to repair and improve roads and bridges.
The Governor’s budget proposal would cut the Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS) by $60 million and the State Touring Routes Program (STR) by $40 million.
“Upstate communities have to contend with tough weather and natural disasters and a loss in the state funding our local communities are counting on would be very counter-productive. The reduction proposed by the Governor targets a service that is vitally important to upstate residents and happens at a time when the state has more than enough funds for illegal migrants,” added McLaughlin.
“Delivering state resources for local road and bridge repair through the CHIPS program is an investment in transportation safety, saves homeowners on their property taxes and shows job creators that their people and products can move safely in our communities. It’s a fair, formula-based program. It’s a rare example of state government solving problems for municipalities instead of creating them. In the context of a budget proposal topping $230 billion, it’s insane that the governor wants to cut one of the state’s most effective, popular programs by tens of millions of dollars. We’re going to work hard to restore this funding and increase our state’s investment in our local infrastructure,” said Senator Ashby.
“Governor Hochul’s proposed budget falls short in addressing critical infrastructure needs. Investing in our local roads is investing in our communities’ future. Slashing CHIPS funding by $60 million ignores the stark reality of a $2.0 billion annual funding gap over the next three years and the relentless inflationary pressures on construction costs. With $89 billion in unmet infrastructure needs looming over the next decade, we cannot afford to neglect our roads. It’s time for bold action: restore the CHIPS cut and allocate an additional $200 million to fortify our local infrastructure, safeguard our economy and ensure a prosperous future for all,” said Assemblyman Bendett.
McLaughlin, Ashby and Bendett were joined by Assemblyman Phil Palmesano, the ranking minority member on the Energy Committee in the Assembly, who laid out the impact of the deep funding cuts in local road support.
“This reduction, if approved, would be a real body-blow to our efforts to maintain and improve roads in Brunswick. The funding would be a major reduction at the midpoint of funding already promised to local governments, and to reduce that funding suddenly and without warning will hurt that work and reduce what we are able to accomplish for our town roads,” said Brunswick Supervisor Phil Herrington.
“Our residents and businesses depend on local roads and all view maintenance of our county and town roads and bridges as a priority. This cut should be cancelled quickly, and funding kept in place to provide for needed road work on the local level in 2024 and beyond,” said Schodack Supervisor Charles Peter.