State lawmakers from Central New York are back in Albany this week to begin hashing out the differences between the one-house budget bills approved last week. State Senator Chris Ryan said his chamber’s budget includes funding to bolster critical health care services that once had federal support.
“Obviously we're facing a big budget gap from the federal government, which is problematic," he said. "We're really going to do our best to help rural hospitals and those that are in need of care that can't afford their care.”
Ryan said the Senate’s budget also prioritizes affordability by expanding access to childcare and offsetting the high cost of energy. He added they approved an energy package that returns excess revenues back to ratepayers, among other measures.
“We're trying really hard to address the energy affordability crisis in there with offsets," he said. "We can't control on the world level what happens to the gas, which is really increasing the utility bills but we're doing what we can.”
Ryan said the chamber’s budget includes capital projects such as a new sewer line to accommodate anticipated growth in southern Oswego County, as well as a clean water fund.
He said the next few weeks are critical in the budget negotiation process.
"I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate, as well as our colleagues in the Assembly, and Governor Hochul to deliver a final budget that reflects the needs and priorities of communities across Central New York and the entire state," Ryan said.
