Today, Assemblymember Harry B. Bronson (AD-138), Senator Jeremy Cooney (SD56) and Assemblymembers Jen Lunsford (AD-135), Sarah Clark (AD-136), and Demond Meeks (AD-137) were joined by City of Rochester Mayor Malik Evans and Monroe County Executive Adam Bello to announce robust investments in the Fiscal Year 2025-26 NYS Enacted Budget.

The budget delivered many initiatives that will benefit Rochester and Monroe County, such as common-sense public safety measures, improvements to healthcare policy, funding for education and continuing education, increasing affordability to help families make ends meet, and a historic capital investment of $59.6 million to modernize the Rochester Riverside Convention Center.

Investments included:

• 2% Increase in Foundation Aid for public schools
• Strengthening our local health care system with $15 million for Monroe County’s

Transformational Community Care Coordination Project (TC3)

• Increasing childcare subsidies and developing a substitute provider network
• Expanding the Empire State Child Tax Credit and creating the Working Families Tax Credit
• Consolidated Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS) - $6.9 million for Monroe County
• “Bell-to-Bell” to eliminate smartphone distractions in classrooms
• Housing Access Voucher Program (HVAP) to reduce homelessness and housing insecurity
• Establishes the Office of Gun Violence Prevention & reforms Discovery laws to include due process protections
• Middle-class tax cuts, reducing rates for more than 75% of New Yorkers
• Bringing relief to workers and businesses by eliminating the Unemployment Trust Fund debt
• Helping our youth succeed with the expansion Juvenile Enhanced Stabilization Diversion (JEDS)
• Supporting economic independence for our families with $3 million for the Monroe County Ladder Demonstration Project
• Enhancing Career Technical Education (CTE) to develop a workforce development pipeline for RCSD students to enter the skilled trades

“This year’s New York State budget is an investment in a more affordable, equitable New York, demonstrating our shared commitment to providing opportunities for our families, businesses and communities so that all may thrive,” said Assemblymember Harry B. Bronson. “We’re building a stronger middle class, championing workforce development and continuing education programs, investing in a robust economy centered around the jobs of today and tomorrow, and ensuring the continued success of our community. I am proud to work alongside my State Delegation colleagues, County Executive Bello and Mayor Evans to provide for the people of Rochester and Monroe County so that they may live safely, successfully, and healthily.”

The Joseph A. Floreano Rochester Riverside Convention Center (JAFRRCC), which is connected to the landmark Roc the Riverway and Downtown Revitalization efforts, will receive $59.6 million for renovating and modernizing the 40-year-old facility. JAFRRCC which opened in 1985, has been a vital economic driver for the community and is the first convention center in the region to receive modernization funds. These upgrades will ensure JAFRRCC’s continued vitality with improvements to ADA accessibility, lighting, technology infrastructure, critical repairs to the exterior of the building, and more. Construction to the exterior began in Fall 2024, and completion of the JAFRRCC modernization project is planned for 2026. Project work will be done by local, unionized labor, bringing good pay and benefits to workers in the community.

“Despite uncertainty at the federal level, our partners in the majority New York State delegation have delivered for the people of Monroe County,” said Monroe County Executive Adam J. Bello. “We are especially grateful for the $15 million investment in the Transformational Community Care Program to reduce hospital overcrowding, the $3 million grant for a demonstration project to assist employers in promoting lower-wage workers, and of course, the historic $59 million for capital improvements at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center.”

“Once again, Governor Kathy Hochul and Rochester’s Legislative Delegation have delivered a State budget that provides the critical resources that empower the people of Rochester to do more than survive but actually thrive” said Mayor Malik D. Evans. “I am grateful to work with elected leaders at every level of government who are committed to working together and speaking with one voice on behalf of the people we serve. As this budget demonstrates, this is the collaborative approach that propels the momentum that is moving Rochester forward.”

To contend with uncertainty at the federal level, legislators also promoted steps taken to prepare residents and businesses for the potential economic challenges that may lie ahead by funding the Working Families Tax Credit, the Empire State Child Tax Credit, enhancing the STAR program, Inflation Rebate Checks to put up to $400 back into families’ pockets, eliminating the $6.3 billion dollar Unemployment Trust Fund debt, and significant investments in Safety Net hospitals and health centers.

Senator Samra Brouk said, “In this year’s budget, I was proud to fight to fund our schools, protect access to healthcare services, and support our working families. By investing in health and mental health access, childcare, free community college opportunities, and securing funding for local community-based non-profits, we are investing in resources that help individuals and families meet the challenges of affordability, access, learning, and care in our communities.”

Senator Jeremy Cooney said, “Our State Delegation has delivered once again for Rochester and Monroe County. From large-scale infrastructure projects in our community and supporting our students, to uplifting working families and investing in public transit, there is plenty to celebrate that will make an immediate impact on the quality of life in our communities. I’m proud to have worked alongside my colleagues in the legislature and Governor Hochul to get this done and ensure our community is a place where everyone is able to live and thrive.”

Assemblymember Jen Lunsford said, "While our community faces funding cuts and uncertainty from the federal administration, New York State crafted a budget that delivers affordability and relief to our residents with big wins for our students and teachers, small business owners, workers and families, we are putting money right back into the pockets of taxpayers. This is a budget that prioritizes and delivers for working families."

Assemblymember Demond Meeks said, "Standing alongside my Assembly and Senate colleagues, I'm proud that this year's budget makes critical investments that will tangibly uplift Rochester and advance equity throughout New York State. The $50 million dedicated to housing vouchers combating homelessness, the $2 million bolstering Double Up Food Bucks to fight food insecurity, and the over $58 million in new education funding for Rochester City Schools are more than just investments; they are lifelines for working families. My commitment remains steadfast: to deliver the resources that strengthen our communities and to relentlessly pursue justice, transparency, and opportunity for every New Yorker.”

“In this year’s budget the Greater Rochester Majority State Delegation has continued to build on our commitment to invest in New York families across all stages of life; from school-aged children to college students and struggling working parents to older adults. We secured $3 million for Monroe County to better help countless families, who despite often working multiple jobs and living paycheck-to-paycheck, experience loss of critical public benefits for making just over the income threshold. After years of advocacy, the budget included Universal School Meals, ensuring every child across the state has access to a free breakfast and lunch,” said Assemblywoman Sarah Clark. “We took major steps in improving the state’s childcare economy for parents and providers alike, with language from my bill A.2708 included in the budget, which will help our childcare providers struggling to operate due to a lack of staffing with access to a registry of substitute staff. And with a big push from the ‘Mom Squad’ members, both the Rochester delegation and statewide, secured a $400 million increase in the state’s primary childcare assistance program to help more families access and afford childcare. Addressing the waitlist crisis for seniors trying to access critical services has been a priority for me since my first year in office. This year the legislature appropriated $53 million to clear waitlists for older New Yorkers who qualify for Expanded In-Home Services for the Elderly Program (EISEP), based on my bill A.1481. Thank you to my colleagues in the local state delegation and advocates near and far for your joint advocacy in continuing our fight so that all New York families can thrive.”