(SOUTHERN TIER, NY) On June 16, 2026, Senator Lea Webb held a virtual town hall this week to discuss the NYS FY 2026-2027 budget and how it will impact District 52. Throughout the webinar, Senator Webb presented highlights from different sections of the budget and answered questions from constituents across the district. 

This webinar discussed budgetary investments in utility affordability, housing, health and mental hygiene, reproductive health, immigration, public safety, K-12 education, and higher education. Senator Webb shared updates on important programs like the newly established energy affordability index, historic funding to the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), and school funding for each district. 

Said Senator Lea Webb, “It’s always been a priority of mine to find ways to make government more accessible to the general public. Throughout this webinar, I shared updates on legislation that was passed, funding for District 52 that was included in our state budget, and discussed ongoing priorities for the community that still need to be addressed. Thank you to everyone who came to my event, please do not hesitate to reach out to my office with any follow-up questions or comments you may have. As your representative in Albany, I rely on direct feedback from constituents about what your priorities are and what you want to see.” 

The discussion ran from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM and covered areas of interest throughout District 52. Senator Webb highlighted several wins for local organizations and programs our community relies on, such as $50,000 for Broome County Gang Prevention, $20 million for Volunteer Fire Infrastructure Response and Equipment (V-FIRE) grants, and $1.1 million for Rural Health Care Access Development and Rural Health Network Development. 

Additionally, Senator Webb discussed important policy provisions passed through the budget. New York State passed language that prohibits utilities for passing on political expenses to ratepayers, requires utilities to establish utility affordability monitors, and encourages the Public Service Commission to lower rates based on the comparison of executive income to median worker income. 

For those who were unable to attend, a full recording of the town hall is available on YouTube. Senator Webb encourages all constituents to watch the discussion to learn more about how the FY 2026–2027 New York State Budget addresses key priorities and delivers critical investments for District 52 and communities across the state. There will be a second Virtual Budget Town Hall that will discuss budget wins for farming and agriculture, environment, veterans, local government, infrastructure, economic development, and targeted local wins for District 52. 

The webinar can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/JJ0LihA_YRI?si=-twwX8e-s5nrLPRp 

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