Assemblyman Matt Simpson (R,C-Adirondack) joined a bipartisan group of state legislators and highway superintendents from across New York to advocate for increased funding under the Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS) in the final 2026-27 state budget.

The event highlighted the severe pressures facing local governments, including unprecedented inflation in highway construction costs and additional burdens imposed by the state’s All-Electric School Bus Mandate under the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA).

Preliminary data from highway superintendents indicates that heavier electric school buses cause faster subgrade rutting and reduce road life by about 20% (from a typical 10 years to eight years). This forces municipalities to shift from affordable resurfacing ($20,000–$50,000 per mile) to full reconstruction (around $550,000 per mile). The increased maintenance costs primarily impact towns and villages.

“Local roads may be the most essential service the government offers. They connect rural communities in the Adirondacks and across Upstate New York, keep families safe, support businesses and ensure first responders and school buses can reach every corner,” said Simpson.

Despite record inflation driving up material and labor costs, Gov. Hochul’s executive budget maintains flat CHIPS funding with only a $50 million local add-on, failing to address an annual shortfall of $2.69 billion needed to maintain these critical assets.

“Standing here with highway superintendents and colleagues from both parties makes it clear that Albany’s flat funding and unfunded mandates are dumping massive new costs onto local taxpayers. We support cleaner transportation, but the state must step up with real resources to prevent devastating burdens on our towns and villages,” Simpson concluded.