(ALBANY, NY) - Senator Jeremy Cooney (D-Rochester) today announced some of the benefits residents of Monroe County will begin to see following the passage of New York State’s FY27 budget. 

“The Trump Administration may not understand the needs of Rochester, but the state legislature does,” said Senator Cooney. “Alongside my state delegation colleagues, I was proud to go to bat for Monroe County to achieve record investments into areas like High Falls, prioritize the affordability needs of our community members most in need, support our students, and increase the quality of life for our neighbors. This budget was about making sure the roots of the Flower City continue growing strong to ensure a successful future for Rochesterians and our community as a whole.”

Natalie Rogers-Cropper, Executive Director, Garth Fagan Dance, said, “All of us here at Garth Fagan Dance are elated at this news. Huge thanks to our champion, Senator Jeremy Cooney and our Honorary Board Member, Deborah Ronnen for spearheading this important initiative. This award will provide a new and improved facility for Garth Fagan Dance, and the Garth Fagan Dance School, that will expand access to dance and arts education for youth and emerging artists, increase rehearsal, performance, and community programming opportunities year round, support workforce development within the creative economy and most importantly, preserve and extend the legacy of one of the nation’s most influential and prolific Black choreographers, Garth Fagan. Kudos to our beloved state of New York!”

Below are some priorities of Senator Cooney that are included in the FY27 budget:

Direct Funding to Projects across Monroe County: 

• $300 million for High Falls through the Rochester-Monroe Transformation Initiative. As part of this funding, $75 million would go towards the creation of High Falls State Park, with $225 million going towards the development of the surrounding neighborhoods, funds that can be used for the stadium, economic development, housing, support for our students, and public safety. 
• $4 million for Garth Fagan Dance to support a permanent home for the world-renowned dance company in Downtown Rochester. Garth Fagan, the multi-award-winning Black choreographer most known for his work on Broadway’s The Lion King, founded Garth Fagan Dance in 1970. This funding would be used for upgrades at the school, ensuring it can remain a cornerstone for dancers, students, and community members for decades to come. 
• $75,000 for Military Family Camp at YMCA Camp Gorham in the Adirondacks, run by YMCA of Greater Rochester. This program allows children of active duty service members to freely attend overnight camp with other children of military families. 
• $200,000 for Special Olympics New York to support transportation for all SONY athletes. This line item will allow the 45,000+ athletes participating in Special Olympics to travel to practices, competitions and state games, and will give SONY the capacity to grow and advance their goal of engaging 10% of New Yorkers with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
• $35 million in new unrestricted funds for the City of Rochester. This critical funding goes directly to cities through Temporary Municipal Assistance under AIM, and assists with programming, staffing and anti-poverty programs.

Combating Immigration Witch Hunts in New York: 

• Restricting Law Enforcement Face Coverings. With the inclusion of the MELT Act (S8462), local, state, and federal law enforcement officers are now prohibited from using face coverings when interacting with the public. This will also mandate that the officer be clearly identifiable by name or badge number on their uniform. 
• New York Civil Rights Act. This would allow private individuals to bring lawsuits against federal agents when that official has violated their constitutional rights. Individuals would be allowed to seek compensatory damages, punitive damages, and attorney fees. 
• Student Protections. The enacted budget includes protections for schools, students, and parents, ensuring every child - regardless of immigration status - has the right to an education and prohibits schools from inquiring into a student’s immigration status. 

Housing Access and Affordability: 

• $50 million for the Housing Access Voucher Program. Currently, nearly 50% of renters in Monroe County are rent-burdened, meaning they spend more than 30% of their monthly income on rent. This program would subsidize rent for those most in need and help our families and individuals avoid homelessness.
• $75 million for Public Housing Authorities outside New York City. 
• $30 million to support infill housing, meaning the development of new homes or repurposing of existing structures on vacant lots to increase housing supply. 
• $40 million in Weatherization Grants to make houses more resilient against climate change and lower energy costs. 

Utilities / Ratepayer Affordability: 

• $1 billion in energy rebate checks to 8.2 million taxpayers with incomes up to $150,000. These taxpayers will receive one time rebates equal to $100 for individual filers and $150 for married filers. 
• Reigning in executive pay. The enacted budget has provisions to require increased scrutiny on utility executive salaries and mandates that more excess revenue earned by utility companies be returned back to taxpayers. 

Transportation Innovation, Equity, and Safety: 

• 7% increase for upstate public transit. This translates to an additional $5 million in State Operating Assistance (STOA) for a total of $374 million for upstate New York transit systems like RTS, funds that can be used for more frequent and efficient routes. 
• $3 million for RGRTA Expansion to Yates County. This would allow RGRTA to expand into Yates County without impacting existing services in Monroe County. 
• $50 million towards the repair and upkeep of local roads and bridges, through the Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program (CHIPs).

Education Investments: 

• Increased foundation aid for school districts, a 2% increase for over $1 billion in additional funding compared to previous years for a total of $27.4 billion statewide. 
• $55 million increase for universal school meals program, for a total of $395 million. 
• $1 million for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, a transformative program that boosts child literacy by providing free books to children under the age of five. 

Caring for Older Adults: 

• $575,000 for Lifespan of Greater Rochester to support their efforts to care for our community’s older adults and to combat elder abuse, including a new anti-scams initiative.
• $500 million for financially distressed hospitals, to ensure continuity of high-quality care. 
• $250 million increase for nursing homes, assisted living programs, and hospice services, for a total of $450 million, to ensure better services for older adults. 
• $400 million in additional funding to support Medicaid rate increases and grants for hospitals, for a total of $680 million. 

Supporting the Asian-American Community: 

• As the fastest growing population in New York State and across the country, the state budget invests $30 million to support initiatives such as combating hate crimes, providing crisis intervention services, and investing in the AAPI Community Development Fund.

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