The New York Senate and Assembly have passed their “one-house” budget bills and Adirondack Park advocates are watching annual negotiations with the Governor to see how their budget priorities are reflected in Northern New York.
Adirondack Council Executive Director Raul J. Aguirre called the proposals a “commitment to clean water funding, wilderness and visitor-use management, climate data collection, and crucial training programs for next-generation leaders.”
He also praised Legislative leaders for proposing increased state funding to New York’s public broadcasters, with the Senate adding $8 million to Gov. Kathy Hochul’s $14-million proposal, split between radio and TV stations.
“We’re happy to see New York State stepping into spaces where the federal government has stepped back: from funding the public broadcasting network that strengthens information systems across our region, to doubling down on clean water infrastructure and climate science. New York is boldly investing in the fabric of Adirondack communities,” Aguirre said. “We hope the final budget reflects these priorities.”
The Assembly budget added $4 million just for public radio. Federal funding for public broadcasting has been cut.
The Adirondack Council has been an underwriter of public radio stations WAMC (Northeast Public Radio, Albany) and WSLU (North Country Public Radio, Canton) for more than 30 years.
New York Almanack publisher John Warren has provided weekly Outdoor Recreation Conditions Reports to North Country Public Radio (NCPR) since 2010.
Record-Setting Environmental Capital Projects Fund
Both houses proposed an increase in the Environmental Protection Fund from the current $425 million to a record-setting $500 million for capital projects.
Both budget plans set aside at least the current funding level of $500 million for Clean Water Infrastructure Act grants to communities, with the Assembly boosting those grants to $700 million in its plan.
The Senate plan also sets aside an additional $200 million for water systems at affordable housing projects, with the Assembly plan doing the same with $50 million. The Senate set aside $20 million to replace septic systems outside of Long Island, while the Assembly dedicated $30 million statewide.
Each house continued its support for the Timbuctoo Institute, which brings students from New York City to summer programs through a partnership between SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry and CUNY Medgar Evers.
Students have the opportunity to participate in programs in both New York City and the Adirondacks to learn about careers in climate science and wilderness management. Both houses proposed $2.1 million, the same as current funding.
Both budgets also propose to add $2 million for the Survey of Climate and Adirondack Lake Ecosystems (SCALE), which is currently underway.
The Senate budget proposal provides $12 million for Adirondack and Catskill Wilderness Protection and Visitor Safety, a $2 million increase over current funding, while the Assembly plan provides steady funding at $10 million.
Both houses dedicated $200,000 for the Adirondack Watershed Institute; $200,000 to support air quality monitoring at the base and summit of Whiteface Mountain that was threatened by a loss in federal funding; $200,000 for the Paul Smiths Visitor Interpretive Center; $250,000 for the Adirondak Loj/Heart Lake Visitors Center; and $450,000 to compensate Essex ($300k) and Hamilton ($150k) counties for foregoing the siting of municipal landfills inside the Adirondack Park.
The Senate budget proposal adds $300,000 more for the closure of non-hazardous materials for landfills.
Each budget sets aside $90 million in capital project funding through the New York Works Program. Funding for the Adirondack Diversity Initiative, which had been supported through the EPF in the past, was shifted to the Aid to Localities section of the NYWP and is proposed to be funded at $425,000.
Read more about the NYS Budget.
Source link
