Schoharie County Board of Supervisors Chairman Bill Federice speaks at a March 27 press conference on highway funding at the county Public Works garage. Photos by Chris English.

SCHOHARIE — Town and Village Highway workers and Superintendents are out at 2 and 3 a.m. many winter mornings working hard to keep roads passable and safe, and yet New York State's financial backing of their efforts is sorely lacking.

That was the message delivered in emphatic fashion by speakers at a Friday, March 27 press conference at the Schoharie County Department of Public Works garage. Before a big turnout of municipal highway workers, Superintendents and others, those who went to the podium said the state needs to step up its CHIPS (Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program) funding in a big way.

Started in 1981, CHIPS provides formula-driven aid to municipalities for construction, maintenance and repair of local roads, bridges and highway-railroad crossings not on the state highway system. Increases in this funding have not nearly kept pace with inflation and equipment and other costs, those at the March 27 event stressed.

"Maintaining roads and bridges is one of the core functions of government," said State Assemblyman Chris Tague, the leadoff speaker at the press conference. "We need to send a message to the governor (Kathy Hochul) that it's time to give roads and bridges the funding they deserve and need."

The push for heavier electric buses further ramps up the urgency for more funding because those vehicles will wear out roads even faster because of their weight, Tague added.

"We're calling for meaningful increases in CHIPS funding, no more empty promises," he said. Tague and others at the event thanked those who maintain municipal roads and gave them a round of applause.

"You make a lot happen with limited resources," he said.

A proposal from a group of state lawmakers has CHIPS funding going up $250 million next fiscal year, bringing total CHIPS funding to $898.1 million. This came after Governor Hochul's initial 2026-27 executive budget left funding for the program flat for next year.

"CHIPS has not kept pace and it puts a real burden on villages, towns and counties," said former state Assemblyman and U.S. Congressman Marc Molinaro, who is running for Tague's Assembly seat after he decided to run for State Senator.

"The state has failed you in so many ways," Molinaro continued. "Chris has been on the front lines in Albany fighting for common sense solutions. It's about damned time the state takes this seriously."

Town of Conesville Supervisor and Schoharie County Board of Supervisors Chairman Bill Federice voiced similar thoughts.

"Money is the common denominator and there has not been sufficient CHIPS money for I don't know how long," he said. "There's a limit to how much we can ask from local taxes. Roads are something that touches everybody. Let's see more of this state money come back to the communities where it's paid."

Town of Fulton Highway Superintendent and Schoharie County Highway Association President Bill Jaycox added his voice to those calling for higher increases in CHIPS funding.

"Inflation means we're not getting as much done with our CHIPS dollars and we're falling behind," he said. "We need to keep roads safe and reliable."

State Assemblyman Chris Tague speaks during a March 27 press conference on highway funding.