Assemblymember Harry B. Bronson (D-Rochester/Chili/Henrietta) helped pass the 2014-2015 state budget that includes significant tax relief for families and small businesses while also investing in local institutions and infrastructure.

“Finding ways to lower the cost of living is essential to making our region a more attractive place to call home,” Assemblymember Bronson said. “By keeping income taxes at their lowest rate in over 60 years and providing substantial property tax relief, this year’s budget aims to do just that.”

Cutting utility tax

In an effort to reduce energy bills, last year’s budget began to phase out a burdensome tax imposed on all utility customers. This year’s budget accelerates the phase-out of that tax, lowering rates by $200 million annually for both residential and commercial customers and $600 million over the next three years.

“The brutal upstate winter has made paying energy bills difficult for families,” Assemblymember Bronson said. “Reducing this surcharge will lower bills this year and sends the message that we are committed to lowering the cost of living for our families in Monroe County.”

Public investment in cutting-edge research

The 2014-2015 state budget increases funding for two local Centers of Excellence in Monroe County. The Center of Excellence in Sustainable Manufacturing at Rochester Institute of Technology and the Center of Excellence for Data Science at the University of Rochester will receive $873,333 each, an increase that gives these institutions parity with other centers across the state.

“For years, our local Centers of Excellence have received far less funding when compared to other campuses throughout New York,” Assemblymember Bronson said. “This year’s budget reverses that trend and ensures that our region will continue to be competitive in the 21st century.”

The state budget also includes major economic development for Western New York. $33 million is being allocated for the Science, Technology & Advanced Manufacturing Park (STAMP) located on 1,200 acres of unused farm land near Batavia. STAMP is part of a Genesee County economic development project that supports large scale SEMI and Nanotechnology based research and manufacturing.

“Leveraging high-quality research institutions with public and private support will make New York a national leader in producing innovative technologies and building our economy,” Assemblymember Bronson said. “It is encouraging to see so much of that development happening in our own backyard.”

Repairing infrastructure, creating jobs

The 2014-15 state budget includes a $40 million increase to the Consolidated Local Street Highway Improvement Program (CHIPs), for a total of $478.1 million. The money, distributed to counties, cities, towns and villages in our area, will rehabilitate our aging infrastructure and spur economic growth.

“Investing in our decaying infrastructure not only makes our transportation routes more reliable, but it also creates high-quality jobs right here in Monroe County,” Assemblymember Bronson said. “This money will help repair the damage that the harsh winter conditions had on the infrastructure that our families and businesses rely on.”

“Repairing our roads will reduce the potential of damage to vehicles, saving taxpayers’ dollars on repairs,” Assemblymember Bronson said.

Fighting poverty in Rochester

The final budget also includes an additional $6 million in state aid to the city of Rochester. The allocated funds are to be directed toward helping the city with its anti-poverty efforts. With a child poverty rate hitting 47 percent and the median household income dropping to $30,700, poverty has become increasingly problematic for the city.

“I am pleased that the state has recognized the need for additional funding to the city of Rochester. Addressing the poverty issue that our city has been faced with will create a ripple effect that will lead to improvements in other areas such as health care, unemployment and housing,” Assemblymember Bronson said.