Superintendents Team with Libous and Legislature for Record Increase!

Superintendents Team with Libous and Legislature for Record Increase!

We can once again thank the members of our Association for their outstanding efforts during Advocacy Day which led to a new funding record for Consolidated Highway Improvement Programs (CHIPs). As in years past, the Executive Budget failed to recognize the real needs of our local roads. But thanks to the efforts of our state legislators in particular Senator Tom Libous, Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, who has personally made CHIPs funding a top priority, and the Joint Transportation Sub Committee Chairs, Senator Mike Nozzolio, Assemblymembers David Gantt and Richard Brodsky—we will receive the largest CHIPs allocation ever.

The 07-08 New York State Budget passed on April 1st increased CHIPs funding to a record high of $312.5 million. This is $16 million more than the Governor's proposed budget and $3 million more than last year's budget. Congratulations!

The Governor's 07-08 budget increased CHIPs to $296.5 million and left the Marchiselli capital aid program flat at $39.7 million. It also increased the bond cap for local highway and bridge service contract bonds issued by the Thruway Authority by $20 million to accommodate the increase in the CHIPs program that was authorized in 2006.

In the 07-08 executive budget the Governor's proposed number of $296.5 million for CHIPs was $7 million more then Governor Pataki's initial number of $289.5 million in the 06-07 budget but was $13 million less than the final number enacted by the Legislature in the 06-07 budget.   Our Association requested an additional $25 million in CHIPs assistance. When you met with your legislators you helped them recognize the needs of local roads and the importance of a proportional increase in funding. They responded with the record increase in CHIPs funding of $16 million bringing CHIPs funding to $312.5 million.

2007-2008 was the second year in our four year plan to add an additional $100 million to the $100 million we already secured in the New York's current five year transportation plan. We are proud to have already secured nearly 40 percent of this goal and it is only with the continued support of our members and your efforts with the Governor and our Legislators that we can continue to make such great progress.

CHIPs ALLOCATIONS FOR 2007-08 ARE AVAILABLE HERE.