New York State's $156 billion 2017 fiscal budget, approved Friday, boosts spending on public water infrastructure.
The fiscal plan dishes out $350 million over the next two years for municipalities throughout the state to upgrade and maintain drinking and wastewater infrastructure. The Water Infrastructure Improvement Act, a three-year grant program established in 2015, enabled the state to increase water project funding to $175 million in 2016-17 and 2071-18, an increase of $100 million over previously budgeted totals.
Recent Clean Watersheds and Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs surveys have shown New York State has more than $53 billion in documented need for investment over 20 years. The state's Environmental Facility Corp.'s 2016 Intended Use Plan showed that needs exceeds $14 billion for shovel-ready projects.
"With water quality crises reaching a tipping point, we are pleased to see the State coming together on additional multi-year dedicated funds in the budget that will help address this critical issue," said Marcia Bystryn, president of the New York League of Conservation Voters. "Governor Cuomo's and the Legislature's allocation for each of the next two years brings us closer to leveraging the estimated $800 million of water infrastructure needed annually statewide."
