Assemblyman Rob Walker (R, C, I, WF - Hicksville) announced that the 2008-09 New York State Budget will provide more state highway aid for town and local villages within the 15th Assembly District.

As included in the Transportation, Economic Development and Environmental Conservation budget bill passed by both houses of the state Legislature, towns and local villages will receive the following Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program ("CHIPS") funding:

Assemblyman Rob Walker (R, C, I, WF - Hicksville) announced that the 2008-09 New York State Budget will provide more state highway aid for town and local villages within the 15th Assembly District.

As included in the Transportation, Economic Development and Environmental Conservation budget bill passed by both houses of the state Legislature, towns and local villages will receive the following Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program ("CHIPS") funding:

	2008-09 CHIPS	INCREASE	%INCREASE
Town of Hempstead	$2,103,182	$100,133	23.50%
Town of North Hempstead	$501,829	$78,153	18.45%
Town of Oyster Bay	$1,293,730	$ 244,926	23.35%
Village of Westbury	$199,683	$32,356	19.34%
Village of Brookville	$56,322	$9,731	20.89%
Village of Lattingtown	$22,716	$4,082	21.91%
Village of Laurel Hollow	$50,223	$8,972	21.75%
Village of Matinecock	$8,563	$1,542	21.95%
Village of Mill Neck	$21,513	$3,873	21.95%
Village of Muttontown	$68,788	$ 10,326	17.66%
Village of Old Brookville	$45,862	$8,108	21.48%
Village of Upper Brookville	$31,746	$5.715	21.95%

"By restoring the cuts to local highway aid that were proposed in the executive budget and providing even more funding for local villages, we've taken an important step toward reducing the cost of village government and easing property taxes," said Walker.

Under the Spitzer-Paterson Executive Budget proposal, the CHIPS program would have been cut by $9.1 million statewide. Through the work of Assemblyman Walker and his colleagues, this proposed cut was restored and an additional $51 million was provided statewide to ease the burden on property taxpayers.

"Improving and then maintaining local roadways is a necessity to preserve a quality-of-life concern for local residents," said Walker. "The restored funds will help alleviate the cost to the village. This funding is a vital investment in the community that will ultimately protect property taxpayers."

Assemblyman Rob Walker (R, C, I, WF - Hicksville) announced that budget negotiations have resulted in increases to SFY 2008-09 aid and incentives to municipalities within the 15th Assembly District. These increases not only restore the cuts the Executive Budget had proposed, but increase aid 3 percent over what the SFY 2007-08 aid package was.

"Today's news is another victory for the taxpayers of my district," said Walker. "In addition to recent health care cut restorations, the news that aid to towns and villages will not only be restored, but increased under the Aid and Incentives to Municipalities program (AIM), means that the state will not be able to shift the tax burden onto local governments in order to balance the budget."

In the proposed Executive Budget, the governor had proposed $18.4 million in cuts to the AIM program. According to published reports, "the SFY 2008-2009 State Budget will contain an increase of $112 million in aid to localities above the Executive Budget proposal."

Of the towns most affected by these cuts, the Town of Hempstead will be receiving $121,751 more in aid, the Town of North Hempstead will receive $32,378 more in aid, the Town of Oyster Bay will receive $53,220 more in aid, and the Village of Westbury will receive $3,537, all 3 percent increases.

"Although the budget process has been slow this year, Long Islanders have thus far been protected through the work of the Nassau County delegation," said Walker. "I will continue to fight for the needs of my district as budget negotiations continue in the coming days."