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“We finally have a budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year. I will say this budget season has been very frustrating, but we do have a spending plan. I am pleased to deliver funding for many organizations in my district that promote economic development, agriculture, recreation, and veteran services.
“I am glad that we were able to restore foundation aid funding for public schools, which in turn will help educate our children and keep our property tax level. We also saw an increase in TAP that will help our community colleges and public colleges recruit students and make it more affordable for them.
“We were able to restore infrastructure funding for our local municipalities to take care of our roads and bridges. We delivered a rise in AIM funding for municipalities as well for the first time in many years. Regarding public protection, I was glad to see increased penalties for assault on retail workers and efforts to thwart retail shopping theft, as well as measures to shutter illegal cannabis shops.
“There is a lot in this budget, some good some bad. Although there are no new taxes, I wanted to see more relief for middle income earners to help with rising costs. I voted against the closure of our correctional facilities statewide and money going to New York City to deal with the migrant crisis they are under right now. I do agree they need help, but they should be getting it from the federal government not New York State taxpayers. There was no accountability in how this money was going to be distributed as well. It is a lot of taxpayer money. We could have done more for DSPs and those with intellectual or developmental disabilities as well. I was also disappointed that we could not do more for our struggling nursing homes to take care of our seniors and am anxious about how CDPAP regulations formula will be implemented.”
Syracuse.com summary: “Additionally, New York will expedite the closure of up to five state prisons in an effort to save money amid the state’s declining prison population. The governor has until next March to choose which prisons will close. The state has shuttered two dozen correctional facilities since 2011 because of vacant beds, saving about $442 million annually, according to the state corrections department.”
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced an agreement to address key priorities in the Fiscal Year 2024 New York State Budget. This bold and fiscally responsible plan makes historic investments in communities across the state and makes New York more affordable, more livable and safer.
“I promised New Yorkers we’d make our state more affordable, more livable and safer, and this budget delivers on that promise,” Governor Hochul said. “I am pleased to have reached an agreement with Speaker Heastie and Leader Stewart-Cousins on a transformative budget that improves public safety, transforms our mental health care system, protects our climate and invests in our children’s future.”
Improving public safety by providing judges greater discretion to set bail for serious crimes; investing $347 million in evidence-based gun violence prevention initiatives; $170 million to support the implementation of discovery reform for prosecutors and defenders, including $50 million in capital for discovery technology improvements in New York City; $92 million in aid for prosecution and defense funding across the state; and more than $66 million to increase the number of State Police academy classes and number of troopers dedicated to addressing serious crime
Investing $1 billion in mental health – the largest investment in comprehensive mental health care in a generation – and transforming the continuum of care by increasing inpatient psychiatric treatment capacity, dramatically expanding outpatient services, and boosting insurance coverage
Creating a stronger health care system for the future through an additional $1 billion in health care capital funding and expanded Medicaid coverage for more than 7.8 million low-income New Yorkers
Protecting reproductive health care by investing $100.7 million to fund abortion providers, expanding access to abortion care for SUNY and CUNY students, providing access to over-the-counter contraception at pharmacies, enacting additional data protections for patients seeking reproductive health care, and increasing the Medicaid reimbursement rate for abortion care
Record funding for P-12 schools and higher education, including the largest annual School Aid amount of $34.5 billion, full funding of Foundation Aid for the first time in history, reauthorizing 22 charters, including 14 in New York City, and $2.4 billion for new capital projects for SUNY and CUNY
Implementing new comprehensive programs to ensure high-quality, affordable child care, including $500 million towards a Workforce Retention Grant Program and $25 million to support the Employer Child Care Tax Credit, and an expansion of the Child Tax Credit to include children under four years old
Increasing the minimum wage for three years, after which the State’s minimum wage would increase at a rate determined by the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), giving hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers who earn minimum wage a pay increase to keep with rising costs of living
Supporting tenants, including residents of public and subsidized housing with rental arrears through a major investment in rental assistance for New York City Housing Authority and other public housing residents, as well as Section 8 voucher recipients and other subsidized housing residents through the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP)
Saving the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) from the “fiscal cliff” and securing long-term stability through adjusting the Payroll Mobility Tax for the largest businesses within New York City to 0.6 percent, generating approx. $1.1 billion; $300 million in one-time State aid; requiring New York City to contribute $165 million for paratransit services funding; $65 million to reduce the proposed fare increase on the MTA; expanding service frequencies on the subway and launching a pilot program providing five free bus routes in New York City to enhance the customer experience
Combating climate change and investing in energy affordability by implementing first-in-the-nation zero-emission requirements for new building construction, and expanding the New York Power Authority’s ability to support New York’s climate goals
Making New York a more competitive place to grow jobs and drive economic growth by expanding and enhancing the New York Film Tax Credit – one of the most stable film production incentive programs in the nation – which will provide a boost to New York’s film industry, one of the largest union employers in the state
Building infrastructure and capital projects across the State, including $1.7 billion for a new Department of Health research laboratory, $2.4 billion for transformation, maintenance and preservation projects at SUNY and CUNY campuses across the state, $446 million for Phase Three of the Hunts Point Interstate Access Improvement Project, $105 million to upgrade the State Emergency Operations Center, $51 million for Hudson Valley Bridge Rehabilitation and Replacements, and much more
Supporting New Yorkers with disabilities by expanding the Medicaid Buy-In Program for working people with disabilities, funding and reinvigorating the Interagency Coordinating Council for Services to Persons who are Deaf, Deaf-Blind and Hard of Hearing and increasing the number of Civil Service Section 55-B positions to grow the representation of those with disabilities in the State workforce
Expanding access and boosting demand for New York food and products while supporting farmers by increasing food manufacturing capabilities in the state; $10 million to support the establishment of farm markets, supermarkets and food cooperatives in underserved communities; and $50 million over five years to local school districts to support New York State farm products in meals for K-12 school children
Expanding the enforcement powers of the Office of Cannabis Management and Department of Taxation and Finance to further grow the legal marketplace for cannabis, including levying fines on illegal retail operations and closing those shops down
Supporting New York Seniors by funding programs statewide to support aging in place and to fight financial exploitation, elder abuse, and isolation of the aging, and increasing funding for the Master Plan for Aging (MPA), a comprehensive, interagency vision for seniors living in New York State
I promised New Yorkers we’d make our state more affordable, more livable and safer, and this budget delivers on that promise.”
Governor Hochul
With a conceptual agreement in place the legislative houses are expected to pass bills that will enact these priorities. The total budget for FY 2024 is currently estimated at $229 billion, based on a preliminary assessment of the negotiated changes to the Executive proposal. The Enacted Budget will hold State Operating Funds spending under 3 percent in FY 2024 and will increase the State’s reserves to a record level of 15 percent, as proposed by the Governor in the first months of her administration.
Eddie & Aii Webbinarro with their kids Isabelle and Zachary
Krista Bull and her daughter Cora worked along Bear Swamp R.
Krista & Cora Bull reported at 8 a.m. sharp. Cora belongs to Girl Scout Troop 4203.
Peru, NY, April 20, 2024—Peru Lions Club President David Dalton reports that many families, young people, and Girl Scouts participated in today’s Peru Clean-up Day, as did several members of a SUNY Plattsburgh fraternity. The Peru Lions Club and the Peru K-5 PTO coordinated the event.
On Saturday, April 20th, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Peru Central School High School Golf Team will be hosting a Car Wash at the Peru Fire Department. The cost is $5 per car. Come out and show your support for the 2024 golf team!
Senator Dan Stec (R, C-Queensbury) today voted against the Public Protection and General Government Bill (S.8305-C) state budget bill and a measure in it that authorizes the closure of up to five correctional facilities statewide. During the debate on this bill, Senator Stec brought a hostile amendment to the Senate floor that would eliminate this closure provision. The amendment was defeated by Senate Democrats in a party-line vote.
“Ever since language authorizing the closure of up to five correctional facilities appeared in the governor’s original Executive Budget presentation, I’ve repeatedly spoken out about the dangerousness of this idea,” said Stec. “Data from the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision has shown a consistent increase in assaults on incarcerated individuals, officers and civilian staff. Between this and the declining number of correction officers, closing facilities would only exacerbate this current climate and make existing sites even less safe.
“Additionally, New York State’s record with managing closed correctional facilities has been an unmitigated disaster. Across the state, these buildings have been dormant and are turning into a blight on their home communities, with no tangible plans presented to put these sites back in use and make them economic drivers in their respective regions,” he continued.
“These are among the many reasons I voted against this portion of the state budget, and it’s why I stood up on the Senate floor and sponsored a hostile amendment to eliminate this closure provision. I’m proud to fight on behalf of our correction officers, civilian staff and their home communities. It’s unconscionable that Senate Democrats refuse to accept the need to keep correctional facilities open and instead continue to push an agenda that only furthers criminal behavior,” Stec concluded.
Plattsburgh – April 17, 2024 – The George and Shirley Moore Foundation of Keeseville presented the Heart Well Homestead with a $25,000 donation to help establish a maternity home in the city of Plattsburgh.
Heart Well Homestead is a new nonprofit in Clinton County that will strive to alleviate homelessness by operating a 24-month transitional residential program for pregnant and postpartum mothers and their children. In addition to housing, the program will provide necessities and coordinate resources, referrals, and support programs to aid mothers in restoring their self-sufficiency and becoming contributing members of society.
Heart Well Homestead anticipates opening in 2025. For more information about Heart Well Homestead, visit its website https://www.HeartWellHomestead.org or contact Janice Tobin at (518) 569-5370.
Peru – Monday, April 10, 2024—The Peru Town Board conducted a Special Meeting to authorize the payment of routine bills, which the board did. (Because of the eclipse, only one regular meeting is being held this month). Highway Superintendent Michael Farrell requested that the board allow the sale of a 1996 water truck and a 2006 International plow truck. Both trucks have significant maintenance and body integrity issues. Farrell recommended that they declare itas scrap advertised in the Press-Republican. The board concurred.
167 Donahue Rd.
Code Enforcement Officer Bob Guynup informed the board about deplorable outside conditions at 167 Donahue Rd, an unoccupied property. Trash is strewn all around the property. The owner passed away in 2022; the property is in probate. Friends and relatives may clean the property. Guynup will keep an eye on the situation.
“We finally have a budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year. I will say this budget season has been very frustrating, but we do have a spending plan. I am pleased to deliver funding for many organizations in my district that promote economic development, agriculture, recreation, and veteran services. 
Syracuse.com summary: “Additionally, New York will expedite the closure of up to five state prisons in an effort to save money amid the state’s declining prison population. The governor has until next March to choose which prisons will close. The state has shuttered two dozen correctional facilities since 2011 because of vacant beds, saving about $442 million annually, according to the state corrections department.”
Peru, NY, April 20, 2024—Peru Lions Club President David Dalton reports that many families, young people, and Girl Scouts participated in today’s Peru Clean-up Day, as did several members of a SUNY Plattsburgh fraternity. The Peru Lions Club and the Peru K-5 PTO coordinated the event.
State Senator Dan Stec Press Release 
