The New York State government, to the dismay of many Hudson Valley officials and residents, recently approved its 2024-2025 budget without addressing a crucial problem in Region 8: the poor and hazardous road conditions plaguing countless drivers.

After several delays, the state officially passed the budget on Saturday, April 20, totaling $237 billion with $400 million going toward Region 8. Senator James Skoufis, during the budget review, advanced an extra $100 million for road repairs in the Hudson Valley, a proposal that Governor Kathy Hokul denied. Skoufis expressed his frustrations with Hokul’s decision in the following days, emphasizing the infrastructure bill that the United States government passed in 2022.

“We were told a few years ago when the federal government passed the infrastructure bill, the DOT would have more money than they know what to do with on infrastructure,” he said. “The roads in my district and the Hudson Valley and other parts of the state have never been worse. Where is all this money that was supposed to be coming down from the sky to repave and rebuild and improve our infrastructure?”

“We advanced $100 million of extra funding for Region 8. Historically underfunded, roads are deplorable,” he continued. “One person is responsible for making sure the Hudson Valley roads are not going to be repaved with that extra money. That is Governor Kathy Hokul.”

Similarly, Assemblyman Brian Maher disapproved of the state’s 2024-2025 budget for various reasons, notably for its lack of funding for road infrastructure.

“I voted no on our capital projects budget bill today that continues to fail our state and local roads,” Maher wrote on April 19. “We are spending nearly $240 billion in the budget and the majority has failed to invest properly in our state and local infrastructure.”

On Thursday, April 25, Town Supervisors Steve Brescia, Charles Carnes and George Serrano met with State Senator Rob Rolison and state superintendents to discuss Orange County’s roads and submit a letter to the state. The group was unsure when the budget would pass, given delays over the weeks, so it ended up meeting after its approval. During their conference, Rolison explained that Region 8 received the same budget as last year and continues to be underfunded.

“He said that Region 8 received $400 million, with no increase or change from last year,” Carnes said.

The supervisors, after brainstorming some alternative plans, speculated that they could reach out to the state DOT for road funding. If the DOT falls through, they could apply for reimbursement and initiate small-scale projects to fill cracks and potholes.

Don Berger, an active Montgomery resident who played a huge role in assembling these supervisors, wished that the group met much sooner before the budget’s approval. He suggested that the supervisors and their representatives plan far ahead for the state’s budget review next year, stressing that they should think proactively.

“I think that our supervisors, our senators and our assembly people have to put a list together of the roads that are needed to be done immediately and have that for the next budget,” Berger said. “I have a problem with the state when they say that they’re not responsible for any damages. This is negligence, and I really believe that our town officials need to be more proactive in this.”