POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (October 5, 2026) – New York State Senator Rob Rolison (R-Poughkeepsie) today sent a letter to Governor Kathy Hochul calling for greater state support for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in the upcoming State Budget as federal funding cuts threaten to shift new costs onto New York and its local governments or taxpayers.

Beginning this October, changes to federal SNAP funding are expected to result in more than $168 million in additional annual costs in New York, with the state potentially facing an estimated $1.1 billion in new direct benefit costs in the future.

“With counties and local communities asked to shoulder some of this financial burden, I am deeply concerned these costs could ultimately be passed on to New Yorkers through higher property taxes or cuts to other essential services. At a time when hard-working families are already struggling with high costs of energy, food, housing and other everyday necessities, they simply cannot afford another increase in their cost of living,” the letter reads.