BY JEFF CHUDZINSKINorth Country This Week

POTSDAM -- Under the proposed state budget from Governor Kathy Hochul, Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS) funding would remain flat at $598 million again, while state highways would see an $800 million budget increase.

State Senator Dan Stec and Assemblyman Scott Gray visited Potsdam on Friday, Feb. 28, along with a number of highway department heads from around the county, to discuss attempts to secure an additional $250 million for CHIPS.

"That's what we have requested and will continue to advocate for," Stec said.

Stec noted that 87% of all highways in the state are local highways, meaning they qualify for CHIPS funding.

But with the CHIPS budget flat at $598 million again and costs rising, that makes it impossible to get ahead on repairs, reconstruction and repaving.

"It doesn't make sense to increase the state DOT budget so much and leave CHIPS flat," Stec said.

He said it was "embarrassing" to have to "panhandle" during road maintenance season in order to secure the necessary funding to update and repair highways.

"These roads can only go so far. Once repairs are neglected for so long, you move into full repaving mode and that costs significantly more money. But we don't have the funds necessary to repair the roads as needed right now," Stec said.

Stec said the flat CHIPS budget reflects "the state not putting resources into the roads that need it most."

The additional $250 million request would also go to paying for bridge repairs and replacements, as well as extreme winter weather road repairs and maintenance.

"When you look at the funding, the MTA (Metropolitan Transportation Authority) is funded five to one compared to CHIPS. I understand that half of the state's population lives in the five boroughs but what we're asking for is just a little extra funding for upstate highways," Stec said.

Stec said he and state legislators were confident in the CHIPS formula, noting it was "a very fair, balanced formula" that equally represents all counties.

"We're just asking for a little bigger piece of the pie to fund it," he said.

Gray touched on the rising expenses associated with road and bridge repairs, saying the cost of goods such as fuel and asphalt has risen 20% in recent years.

"There hasn't been an effort to even keep up with the cost of inflation. That's a big reason we're falling behind," he said.

Gray commented that when assessing the state budget and allocating funds for highways, Governor Kathy Hochul "only recognizes the state DOT (Department of Transportation) when we discuss highways."

"We recognize that the purchasing power of CHIPS has been severely reduced due to rising inflation," Gray said.

He said $8 million was included in the budget to restore the purchasing power on projects that were impacted by inflation but said more needed to be done.

St. Lawrence County Highway Superintendent Don Chambers touched on the reduction in buying power, saying the 20% loss will never be regained unless CHIPS is reassessed and funded better.

He, along with many highway superintendents and employees, will be in Albany next week to advocate for more funding.

"It's very important that we support local highway departments and projects but CHIPS is an essential part of that," Chambers said.

He commented that the "20% erosion of CHIPS means less paving."

Chambers said he has also struggled with recruitment and retention efforts, further exacerbating issues at the county level.

"We're constantly hiring at the county level...that's why we're also seeking pension reforms as well," Chambers said.

"We're dealing with constant turnover and these guys are working in severe weather conditions. We have to think about their safety when they're out on the roadways," Chambers said.

He also said nine municipalities in the county plow highway roads, a trend that is common statewide with 25% of all state highways plowed and maintained by counties and municipalities.

"It's important to keep the infrastructure in place but we need the resources to do that," Chambers said.

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