It’s been a busy week in Albany. The Senate released its proposed budget, which I was glad to see included many provisions I worked to advance to support Orange County residents and communities.
These included Orange County’s inclusion in the Tappan Zee Bridge resident toll discount program, as well as a boost of $100 million in local infrastructure funding to make up for historic shortchanging by DOT. Also included was a wholesale rejection of the Governor’s disastrous plan to cut education funding, which would hurt our students, our educators, and our communities writ large.
A few of the many toplines of this proposal include:
● Grants for volunteer firefighters
● Restored funds available for new farmers
● Additional support for local roads
● Small business relief from rising unemployment insurance costs
● Middle and working-class tax relief
● Continued expansion of universal pre-K and universal school meals
My focus throughout the budget process has been delivering for the residents of Orange County, and looking through this proposal highlights how hard I’ve been fighting to make our communities safer, schools better, and life easier and more affordable for hard-working families in this district. I’ve been clear from the start where my priorities for the state budget lie for me—getting the resources our district needs. As we negotiate toward a final budget, I’m going to keep my foot on the gas.
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