Assemblymember Pamela J. Hunter (D-Syracuse) announced that she passed the 2019-20 state budget, which includes key investments to strengthen Central New York’s education system, clean water infrastructure and environment.

“From the quality of our schools to the water we drink and air we breathe, I’m always fighting to better the lives of Central New Yorkers,” Hunter said. “While crafting this year’s state budget, I made sure the needs of our communities were met and that Syracuse got its fair share of funding.”

The state budget includes a $1 billion increase in education funding over last year, for a total of $27.8 billion. This includes an increase of $618 million in Foundation Aid for a total of $18.4 billion. All of the school districts in Hunter’s district will see an increase in funding. Hunter also helped secure critical funding to expand access to higher education, including $6 million more for Educational Opportunity Centers (EOCs), for a total of $61 million. EOCs provide a range of services that include education and training for disadvantaged and adult residents, targeted business and industry programs, academic preparation programs for at-risk youth, learning programs to strengthen families and initiatives to narrow the digital divide among low-income communities by making technology more accessible. The Syracuse Health Science Center (HSC) also received more than $200,000 in capital project funding.

Further, the budget continues efforts to combat pollution and improve water quality in Syracuse. While Onondaga Lake was once considered one of America’s most polluted lakes, it is now seeing vast improvements, including the return of bald eagles.^[1] This resurgence is due, in part, to Hunter’s strong commitment to the environment. In this year’s budget, Hunter helped secure a record $300 million for the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF), the highest level of funding in the program’s history. To ensure all Central New Yorkers have access to clean drinking water, the budget builds on the state’s historic $2.5 billion investment in clean water, investing an additional $500 million for the Clean Water Infrastructure Act. This funding will go to many vital improvement projects, including the replacement of lead drinking water service lines, Water Quality Improvement Projects and upgrades and replacements for septic systems and cesspools.

[1] syracuse.com/opinion/2019/03/bald-eagle-resurgence-a-sign-of-nys-environmental-leadership-commentary.html