By Doug La Rocque
Last month The Eastwick Press reported on the annual March on the Capital by Highway Superintendents around the state, with this year’s theme being “local roads matter.” At the time Grafton’s Herb Hasbrouck said the highway chiefs had abandoned their typical upstate versus downstate battle for the dollars and were taking a more united approach. [private]He also said he thinks “this year the Governor realizes to build a better state you have to have a good infrastructure first.” Berlin’s Jim Winn was also confident there would be an increase, saying “there is not enough money for local roads with the two percent tax cap, everyone is running behind.” It appears now their confidence was well placed, and that Governor Cuomo and the state legislature were listening.
The new state budget approved by the lawmakers on April 1 did indeed contain more for the Consolidated Highway Improvement Program, (CHIPs). Hasbrouck said that numbers provided to him by State Senator Kathy Marchione indicate Grafton will be on the receiving end of a $25,687 increase, bringing the town’s share up from $112,579 to $138,277. Grafton is not the only area town to see an increase in funding. In Berlin, the annual allotment is up nearly $25,000 to $131,956. In Stephentown, the highway department will have an additional $29,253 to work with. The increase bringing the town’s total CHIPs monies to $157,409. In Petersburgh, the increase is $18,811. That brings the town’s share to $101,217.
Hasbrouck, who is President of the Rensselaer County Highway Superintendents Association, wanted to thank all those from the county who took part in the march, labeling this year’s effort a great success.[/private]