Earlier this month, my colleagues and I wrapped up budget negotiations where I worked to ensure our community has the resources it needs to thrive and secured vital investments to move Amherst, Western New York, and New York State forward. From investing in our schools, public safety measures and infrastructure, to putting money back in the pockets of hardworking families, the 2025-26 state budget strengthens our community and helps make it more affordable.

Many families are struggling to make ends meet as the cost of necessities and goods keeps rising. To let New Yorkers keep more of their hard-earned money, this year’s state budget cuts income tax rates for approximately 8.3 million taxpayers. Those who jointly earn less than $323,000 will see their state income taxes reduced to the lowest rate in decades, while self-employed individuals earning less than $150,000 will have their payroll tax eliminated. Additionally, we enhanced the Empire State Child Tax Credit for three years, providing over $825 million in tax relief once fully phased in.

Ensuring our local school districts have the support they need to prepare our young students for the future was one of my top priorities during budget negotiations. I’m proud to report that all our school districts, Amherst, Sweet Home, and Williamsville, received increases in state Foundation Aid. We also made changes to the Foundation Aid formula in order to more accurately reflect the current needs of districts.

To help children focus on their studies by not worrying about their next meal, the spending plan provides free school breakfast and lunch for all New York students enrolled in districts participating in the national breakfast and lunch program. The budget also establishes a bell-to-bell ban on internet-enabled cell phones. While schools should still have the ability to determine how best to implement this on a district by district basis, it is clear, based on advice from teachers, administrators, health professionals, and school resource officers, that eliminating the distraction is beneficial for young students both academically and socially.

Like our schools, local libraries are invaluable sources of knowledge, enrichment, and utility for all ages in our community. They serve as vital community spaces, offering not only books but additional materials such as audiobooks, computers and visual media. To support our libraries, the state budget provides $106 million in Library Operating Aid.

Keeping our families and community safe means investing in the services that protect and serve those who need it most. I was proud to help secure funding for the Center for Elder Law and Justice, which provides a wide variety of free legal services to the senior population, the Family Violence and Women’s Rights Clinic at the University of Buffalo Law School which assists victims of domestic violence, and the Mental Health Advocates of Western New York Youth Peer Advocates Program which addresses the mental health needs of students in our area.

This year’s budget reflects our shared commitment to making New York a better place for everyone who calls our great state home, and I will continue working hard to ensure our community’s needs are met. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact me at mcmahonk@nyassembly.gov or 716-634-1895.