FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 12, 2014

Speaker Silver and Local Governments Chair Magnarelli Announce a $280 Million Increase in Aid to Assist Localities in The Assembly SFY 2014-15 Budget
Record funding Levels for Local Government Highway Programs
Continued in Assembly Budget


Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Local Governments Committee Chair William Magnarelli today announced that the Assembly budget proposal for SFY 2014-15 provides $280 million more in local government assistance funding, to benefit New York City and local governments, than the Executive's budget.

"The additional funding for New York City and communities throughout the state in our budget takes into account the financial stress local governments are enduring as they balance their budgets and deliver the essential services their residents depend on. We in the Assembly are troubled by the fiscal challenges municipalities are experiencing and pledge to do everything we can to help them through this difficult economy," said Silver.

"Our house's budget recognizes that state aid to local governments cannot remain flat for another year as it has for the last several years. We in the Assembly are committed to a state budget that includes funding levels that can appropriately address the many financially distressed municipalities who are in need of additional state assistance," said Magnarelli.

The Assembly budget would increase total funding for base level grants in the Aid and Incentives for Municipalities (AIM ) Program to $995 million, up from the Executive's $715 million, and gives $200 million in AIM to New York City which has not received AIM funding since SFY 2009-10.

The Assembly budget also would provide $123,000 in funding restorations and increases to four villages: Mastic Beach, Woodbury, South Blooming Grove and Sagaponack. These municipalities were not included in the Executive Budget.

Funding for the state's Financial Restructuring Board is also increased in the Assembly budget by $40 million above the Executive Budget for a total of $120 million.

Funding Assistance for Local Government's Roads and Highways

In highlighting additional aid for local governments, Assembly Transportation Committee Chair David Gantt announced the Assembly budget continues the record funding levels established in the previous fiscal year for the Consolidated Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS) and the Marchiselli Program.

"The budgets of municipal highway departments across the state rely on the CHIPS and Marchiselli programs to help repair, maintain and update their roads. For the safety of the driving public and to help address the financial pressures many local governments are facing, it is important that state funds for these vital programs are continued at last year's levels and are not reduced," said Gantt.

Under the Assembly budget plan, $438 million is provided for CHIPS and $39.7 million is allocated to the Marchiselli Program. Prior to SFY 2013-14, the state's support for both programs was flat with no funding increase in the five previous years.