Nearly 400 mayors and municipal officials across New York State are calling on Governor Kathy Hochul and legislative leaders to increase state funding for local governments in the upcoming budget.
In a letter sent to Hochul, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, the officials urged state leaders to build upon last year’s historic $50 million increase in unrestricted aid to municipalities. That investment was the first funding boost in 15 years.
While the officials expressed appreciation for the funding increase, they warned that local governments continue to struggle with inflation, declining sales tax revenue, and the expiration of federal COVID-19 relief funds. The letter emphasized that a one-time investment is not enough, calling for “consistent and predictable annual increases” in Aid and Incentives for Municipalities (AIM) funding.
Barbara J. Van Epps, executive director of the New York State Conference of Mayors and Municipal Officials (NYCOM), reinforced the urgency of the request. “We certainly appreciate the additional funding we received last year, but given the challenges we face, a one-time increase is not sufficient,” she said. “To truly empower local officials to make their communities safer and more affordable, we urge our state leaders to build upon this critical investment.”
NYCOM, which represents cities and villages serving more than 12 million New Yorkers, has long advocated for increased state investment in local governments. The organization argues that strengthening municipalities is key to maintaining essential services and fostering economic growth.
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