ALBANY, NY (WENY)--WITHIN THE GOVERNOR’S $233 BILLION BUDGET PLAN SHE PROPOSES $577.8 MILLION FOR THE CONSOLIDATED HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM OR CHIPS—A $60 MILLION CUT FROM LAST YEAR’S FINAL BUDGET.  

DURING A BUDGET HEARING THIS WEEK, SOME NEW YORK STATE LAWMAKERS RAISE CONCERNS ABOUT THIS DECREASE IN FUNDING FOR LOCAL ROADS.  

“Eighty-seven percent of the roads in our state are owned and maintained by our local municipality. Fifty-two percent of the eighteen thousand bridges are owned and maintained by our local municipalities. So, it’s critically important that we make those critical investments in the CHIPS program which goes to every community in the state, including downstate in New York City,” said Assembly Member Phil Palmesano (R-Corning).

Marie Dominguez, commissioner for the New York State Department of Transportation, said THE GOVERNOR’S PROPOSALS ARE PART OF AN AGGRESSIVE PLAN--HIGHLIGHTING HER $32.8 BILLION FIVE YEAR PLAN FOR INFRASTRUCTURE THAT SHE UNVEILED IN 2022.  

“What that means is there’s steady funding to plan and invest in, and truly construct our roads and bridges statewide,” said Commissioner Dominguez. 

ASSEMBLY MEMBER PALMESANO SAid FOR SOME COMMUNITIES CHIPS IS THE ONLY FUNDING THEY HAVE MAKING CUTS MORE IMPACTFUL. 

“It is unfathomable to me how this Governor could make this devastating cut to the CHIPS program of sixty million dollars which will basically hurt the local communities and local property taxpayers and make sure some roadwork and bridgework doesn’t get done," he said. 

PALMESANO SAid tHE CHIPS PROGRAM NEEDS THIS FUNDING CUT RESTORED AND INCREASED.