ALBANY â State lawmakers questioned leading transportation officials Tuesday in the first of several hearings about the proposed 2021-22 budget after requests from localities for years to increase state funding to improve local streets and highways.
The joint state Legislature commenced 13 days of bi-cameral hearings Tuesday on the stateâs proposed $192.9 billion 2021-22 spending plan.
State officials project a $39 billion revenue loss over four years because of the COVID-19 pandemic, including losses of $11.5 billion in Fiscal Year 2021 and $9.8 billion in FY 2022. New Yorkâs revenue shortfall will mount to $39 billion over four years.
Members of the Assembly and Senate on both sides of the aisle asked state Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez why Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program funding has remained flat at $477.8 million annually for nearly a decade, and a Extreme Winter Recovery Reimbursement funds were eliminated this year.