The 2016-17 state budget is a victory for Central New York’s working families. It includes important initiatives like paid family leave, an increase in the minimum wage and middle-class tax cuts to bolster the region’s economic security, while setting aside substantial funds to address the heroin epidemic and rebuild our aging infrastructure.

When fully implemented, the paid family leave program will allow workers to take 12 weeks of paid leave per year to care for a newborn child or family member in need. The measure will be funded through a small weekly employee contribution and affords employees up to two-thirds of their average weekly salary. The Department of Labor estimates that this will benefit almost 250,000 private-sector workers in Central New York.¹ New York’s program is the most comprehensive statewide paid family leave measure in the nation.

The minimum wage increase will help families keep up with the ever-increasing costs of living. The budget incrementally raises the minimum wage for upstate workers to $12.50 an hour by 2021. This initiative will give a raise to almost 100,000 employees in Central New York, and in turn reinvest about $632 million back into the economy, stimulating consumer spending and providing an economic boost for local businesses.

The budget also provides much-needed tax relief for working families in the form of middle-class income tax cuts, which are expected to help nearly 200,000 local residents save a total of $132.4 million, or roughly $670 per year, when fully phased in.

The heroin epidemic has destroyed the lives of countless individuals, irreparably harmed their families and devastated upstate communities where overdoses have spiked dramatically in recent years. This scourge does not discriminate; it has affected people across the socioeconomic and racial spectrum. I am committed to solving this public health crisis and fought for funding in this year’s budget to do just that. It allocates $25 million for implementation of a Heroin and Opiate Treatment Prevention Package to help addicts recover and prevent more senseless tragedies.

And understanding the importance of a solid infrastructure, the budget includes provisions to improve our roads, highways and sewer and water systems. It increases funding for the Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program (CHIPs) by $400 million over four years, with $543 million in spending designated for this year. In addition, the budget provides an increase of $200 million, for a total of $300 million, to improve water treatment facilities and sewer systems throughout the state.

These budget measures will go a long way toward securing our state’s economic future and improving the quality of life for Central New York families.

As always, if you have questions or concerns about the state budget or any other community issue, please don’t hesitate to contact me at StirpeA@assembly.state.ny.us or by calling 315-452-1115.

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