State budget will deliver savings to northern Westchester

GUEST COLUMN

By STATE SEN. PETE HARCKHAM

The New York State Senate Majority fought long and hard for an array of important wins in the FY2026-2027 state budget. Included in the fiscal plan are initiatives and investments that will help New Yorkers deal with the ongoing affordability crisis, as well as increased funding for schools, much-needed road repairs and vital environmental protections. 

State Sen. Pete Harckham

The budget’s continued implementation of the middle-class tax cut, dropping rates to lowest level in 70 years, will help many residents, and it’s increased state investments in education will help hold property taxes down while lifting up our students — a game-changing initiative that the Senate majority has fought for since 2019.

Education

The budget's total education funding included $592.7 million in aid just for SD40’s 19 school districts —  an increase of $23 million from last year, plus a minimum 2% increase in Foundation Aid for all SD40 school districts, universal pre-K funding totaling $22.4 million, with a promise to fully fund the initiative outside of New York City by 2028.

I also fought for $2 million to help the Hendrick Hudson School District transition from the closure of Indian Point.

The environment

As chair of the Senate Environmental Conservation Committee, I recognize that we need to continue to help make our communities more climate resilient and protect our environment by reducing air pollution. Measures we are supporting, like solar energy and updating water infrastructure facilities, are cost-effective answers in fighting our affordability crisis as well.

In fact, we are addressing energy affordability head-on by securing $200 million for the successful NY-Sun Program, part of my Accelerate Solar for Affordable Power legislation. This public funding will catalyze billions in private investment, expand local rooftop and community solar and save ratepayers $1 billion annually.

The state budget addresses high utility costs, too, with a package of reforms including prohibiting utilities from passing the costs of lobbying, political donations, and executive travel on to ratepayers. Also, utility executive’s salaries will be benchmarked to the Public Service Commission’s affordability goals and an “affordability monitor” will be placed inside utility companies if rates increase more than 3%.

Other environmental and clean energy investments include a $250 million increase in clean water funding to a record level of $750 million and $1 billion in sustainable futures funding for weatherization, ramping up clean energy projects and promoting energy efficiency.

Infrastructure

Road and transportation infrastructure investments remain a high priority. The new budget featured a $50 million (7.7%) increase from last year for Consolidated Local Highway Improvement Programs (CHIPS). The total amount of CHIPS funding for SD40 in the budget is over $12.1 million now, an increase of $5.7 million since 2019.

On a more macro level, there was funding for the final year of a record five-year, $34.4 billion Department of Transportation capital plan in the budget, with over $6 billion dedicated this year to modernizing roadways, bridges, railways and aviation. Reliable and safe roadways are the mainstay of our economy, society and quality of life. New York state has invested more than $300 million in roadway repairs, repaving and maintenance on SD40’s state roads since 2019.

Other important investments in the budget that will help strengthen communities in Senate District 40 include $138 million for emergency food assistance, $3 million for Westchester County Department of Public Safety parkway policing and over $1.25 million for domestic violence prevention, youth workforce training and veterans.

Crafting this budget required intense negotiation and a commitment to compromise between the Executive, Assembly, and Senate. While balancing the needs of 213 legislators and our state’s diverse communities is a challenge, we ultimately found common ground. 

Pete Harckham represents the 40th Senate District and chairs the Senate Environmental Conservation Committee.