ALBANY, New York — Gov. Kathy Hochul conceded to pressure from Democratic lawmakers, agreeing to a modest funding boost for environmental projects.
The Environmental Protection Fund will get $425 million this year, according to two lawmakers and a Division of Budget spokesperson. That’s a $25 million increase from the level the fund has been at since the historic high in the 2022 budget.
Why it matters: The fund supports capital projects including park improvements, open space conservation, solid waste management, habitat restoration and more. Environmental groups and Democratic lawmakers pushed to increase the funding to $500 million this year, citing its popularity.
“Overall the environmental budget was a mixed bag,” said Sen. Pete Harckham, the chair of the Environmental Conservation Committee.
