Assemblyman Scott Bendett (R,C–Sand Lake) today joined Sen. Jake Ashby and Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin at the Rensselaer County Highway Garage to advocate for a significant increase in funding for the Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS), a critical resource for maintaining and repairing local roads.

The event highlighted growing concerns over the lack of additional CHIPS funding in this year’s Executive Budget proposal, despite rising material and labor costs driven by inflation. Local officials emphasized that without increased support, municipalities will continue to struggle to keep up with essential infrastructure needs.

“CHIPS funding is the backbone of how our towns and counties maintain safe and reliable roads,” said Bendett. “With costs continuing to rise, asking local governments to do more with less is simply not sustainable. We need to ensure our communities have the resources they need to keep roads safe for residents, businesses, and emergency services.”

Bendett and his colleagues are calling on state leaders to include a meaningful increase in CHIPS funding in the final state budget, noting that the program is the primary source of support for local highway departments across New York.

“As inflation drives up the cost of materials and labor, the need for additional CHIPS funding has never been more urgent,” Bendett added. “Investing in our roads is investing in public safety, economic growth, and the quality of life in our communities.”