Albany, NY – New York State Senator Pete Harckham, along with his colleagues in the State Legislature, passed the FY2026-2027 State Budget late yesterday. Included in the fiscal plan are a number of important wins that he advocated for that will help New Yorkers deal with the ongoing affordability crisis, as well as increased funding for schools, road repairs and environmental protections. 

“Too many New Yorkers’ finances are being stretched to the breaking point by tariffs and rising energy costs,” said Harckham. “I recognize that the enacted budget is both a lifeline for many residents and a major commitment to the state’s future so our residents have the opportunity to prosper and make progress in their lives.” 

Some of the priorities in the budget regarding affordability that Harckham supported were:

• POWER Energy rebates ranging from $100-200 to offset high utility rates, and
• Continued implementation of the middle-class tax cut, dropping rates to lowest level in 70 years

Important education investments included:

• A minimum 2% increase in Foundation Aid for all SD40 school districts
• Fully funding Universal Pre-K outside of New York City by 2028, an initiative the Senate has been fighting for since 2019
• $2 million tax loss mitigation aid for the Hendrick Hudson School District

“As the affordability crisis continues to weigh residents down, our increased state investments in education hold property taxes down while lifting up our students,” said Harckham. “That’s why providing more state aid to our local schools regardless of zip code is both fair and beneficial, and I thank my colleague Sen. Shelley Mayer, chair of the Senate Education Committee, for her tireless work on behalf of the state’s students and educators.”

Since Harckham has been in office (2019), state aid to SD40 schools has increased over $275 million cumulatively.

Karen Belanger, Executive Director, Westchester Putnam School Boards Association, said, “The Westchester Putnam School Boards Association appreciates the ongoing support and efforts of our local legislators in understanding and promoting the critical issues of public school districts. A minimum 2% increase in Foundation Aid and a continuing focus on updating the formula are critical to the financial stability of public schools. In our high-cost region near New York City, local elected officials have been outspoken as to the need for additional per pupil funding to make universal pre-Kindergarten a reality in Westchester and Putnam counties. The increased funding for pre-K in the NYS 2026-27 budget will be a game-changer for many districts that will now be able to welcome more 4-year-old early learners.”

Road and transportation infrastructure investments remain a high priority, Harckham said, and the new State Budget featured:

• A $50 million (7.7%) increase from last year for Consolidated Local Highway Improvement Programs (CHIPS) for a statewide total of $698.1 million—the second year in a row with a $50 million increase in CHIPS—with a total amount of CHIPS funding for SD40 in budget is over $5 million
• Funding for the final year of a record five-year, $34.4 billion DOT Capital Plan, 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,” said Harckham. “Our priority continues to support financing for all transportation infrastructure to the fullest extent possible with a particular focus on refurbishing and replacing critical elements on a timely basis.”

Harckham noted that the total amount of CHIPS funding for SD40 since 2019 is $33.3 million.

Yorktown Highway Superintendent Dave Paganelli said, “Municipalities like Yorktown face major challenges when it comes to maintaining its road infrastructure. That’s why I am extremely grateful for the state’s investments and assistance in maintaining our roads. Historic year after year increases in labor and materials have stretched our capacity to keep up with road repairs, but more CHIPS funding will help us keep to our paving schedule.”

Environmental and clean energy programs included:

• A $250 million increase in Clean Water funding to a record level of $750 million with a commitment to spend $3.75 billion over the next five years
• $1 billion in Sustainable Futures funding to ramp up clean energy projects and promote energy efficiency
• More funding for local PFAS remediation projects 
• $200 million for NY-Sun in the Accelerate Solar for Affordable Power Act to spur solar development and save ratepayers on utility bills
• $500K increase to $8 million for the NYS DEC’s Hudson River Estuary Management Program
• $300K for a NYS DEC study of the Great Swamp Wildlife management Area in Putnam County

Senator Harckham, who is chair of the Senate Environmental Conservation Committee, said, “We need to continue to help make our communities more resilient and protect our environment by reducing air pollution. The good news is that the measures we are supporting, like solar energy and updating water infrastructure facilities, are cost-effective answers in fighting our affordability crisis as well.”

Jeremy Cherson, Associate Director of Government Affairs for Riverkeeper, said, “This year’s budget includes key funding wins for the Hudson River and for protecting the tap water communities in the Hudson Valley rely on. Riverkeeper is thrilled to see a record $750 million to support water infrastructure projects that prevent sewage and pollution from entering our waterways and drinking water sources. Additionally, as part of a record level of funding for the Environmental Protection Fund, Senator Harckham and Assemblywoman Levenberg secured a $500,000 increase to the region’s Hudson River Estuary Program at the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. This new funding will help communities plan for climate change, protect their drinking water, and conserve open space for generations to come.” Some important investments in the budget that will help strengthen communities in Senate District 40 include:

• $138 million in emergency food assistance funding
• $3 million for Westchester County Department of Public Safety parkway policing
• $280K for the Boys & Girls Club
• $350K for Latino U College Access (LUCA)

“This budget advances investment priorities and protections that will enable our residents to better and enrich their lives,” said Harckham. “The loss of federal assistance in certain budget areas necessitated our robust response and commitment toward safeguarding and supporting communities statewide, no easy task. But most of all, the concern on mitigating our affordability crisis guided our decision-making and, in the end, will offer certain benefits to those who need them.” 

Also included in the FY2026-2027 State Budget was Harckham’s legislation (S.3051B) to create a dual license for the Office of Mental Health (OMH) and the Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) to help treat co-occurring disorders, which the senator has been advocating for since he was chair of the Senate’s Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Committee in 2024.