The new state budget will provide a big financial boost for St. Lawrence County highway departments which will see a 24 percent increase in state funding.

Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program funding has remained flat the past five years. The increase brings CHIPS funding for the 2013-14 fiscal year to a little more than $438 million.

Sen. Betty Little (R-Queensbury), who represents the 45th District, including Parishville, Clare, Colton, Hopkinton and Piercefield, supported the measure.

“Local highway superintendents were here in Albany earlier this month. They filled the conference room and made their case,” said Little. “After five years of frozen aid, this is a big boost and much needed given the increased cost of fuel and asphalt. We all depend on safe roads and bridges. Every community benefits from this type of funding.”

St. Lawrence will receive $1,798,304.13 in state funding, an increase of about 24 percent over the previous year.

"This Budget is about jobs, jobs, jobs, and by investing in rebuilding our state’s transportation infrastructure we are helping to grow local economies and create jobs in all corners of the state," Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said. "During these difficult fiscal times, this $75 million increase in CHIPS funding is a big victory for our state's localities that will be able to use these much-needed funds to make repairs to local highways, bridges, and roads, and at the same time support job growth and economic development in their communities. I commend the members of the Legislature that worked hard to ensure that these funds are included in our state budget."