Governor Hochul Announces Major Rochester Investments and Highlig...

Governor Kathy Hochul today rallied with New Yorkers in Rochester to celebrate the passage of the FY 2027 Enacted Budget which includes a slate of wins for the region, including a historic $300 million investment for the Rochester-Monroe Transformation Initiative.

The Governor specifically highlighted her historic commitment to universal childcare with Monroe County to serve as one of New York's first three pilot childcare programs for kids aged newborn to 3-years-old. Focused on making New York a more affordable place to raise a family, the Governor also celebrated initiatives like the state's one-time $1 billion energy rebate program that will provide checks of up to $200 to 8.2 million households, her Ratepayer Protection Plan to mitigate rising utilities costs, auto insurance reforms to put money back in drivers' pockets, and the enactment of her "Let Them Build" agenda to make it easier for communities to build more housing and critical infrastructure - all with the goal of saving New Yorkers thousands in the coming year.

"I have promised New York families that their fight is my fight," Governor Hochul said. "With this Budget, I am thrilled to announce a historic $300 million investment in Rochester and the greater Monroe County area paired with major reforms that will put money back in families' pockets. I am especially proud that the path to universal childcare will be forged right here in Monroe County with $20 million to pilot a network of daycares for newborns to 3-year-olds. From universal childcare to ratepayer protection to auto insurance reform, we stood up to powerful special interests and got it done!"

In addition, Governor Hochul announced $20 million in state funding to advance the demolition of the Terrence Building, the long-vacant former home of the Rochester Psychiatric Center. This investment will facilitate a multi-phased, mixed-use redevelopment project that will include more than 500 units of housing.

The FY 2027 Budget earmarks a record $300 million for the Rochester-Monroe Transformation Initiative. This investment includes:

• $75 million for the construction of High Falls State Park, which will transform 40 acres of brownfield into the City of Rochester's first state park, restoring public access to this part of the Genesee River for the first time in over a century. A framework plan for the new park was released in October 2025 following a year-long public engagement process, and construction is set to begin in late 2026.
• $225 million to support economic development and revitalization projects in the City of Rochester and the surrounding region. This funding will facilitate investments in dozens of high-impact infrastructure projects that unlock new housing, spur follow-on private investments and job growth, create vibrant open spaces and enhance quality of life for visitors and residents.

State Senator Jeremy Cooney said, "Investments in the Terrence Building and High Falls are about better housing, more resources and a brighter future. Rochester came out on top in this budget because we have a Governor that understands our region, we have a delegation that works in unison to bring home resources for our neighbors, and together we have a partnership that is tackling our city's issues head on. I want to thank Governor Hochul for her continued prioritization of our great city and I'm grateful for our work together in this year's budget."

State Senator Samra Brouk said, "We see a federal administration continuing to make cruel cuts to services that help those most in need, but here in New York I am proud to say that we fought in this year's budget to deliver the resources that Rochester needs. This includes over $100 million in municipal aid for Rochester and an additional $8 million in Daniel's Law Pilot funding, continuing our phased implementation of Daniel's Law to honor the legacy of Daniel Prude. We strengthened our investments in education, mental health and also in maternal health with the Community Doula Expansion fund to help improve birth outcomes and improve health disparities. In this moment, so many in our community are looking to leadership for solutions to rising prices and uncertainty, and we will continue to prioritize the needs of the most vulnerable."

Assemblymember Harry B. Bronson said, "This year's state Budget is an investment in a more affordable, equitable New York. It demonstrates our shared commitment to uplifting every corner of Rochester and Monroe County by increasing opportunities for our families, businesses and neighborhoods. From lowering barriers to building affordable housing, energy rebates and a universal childcare pilot that will bring relief to working families, to a total investment of $300 million for the Rochester-Monroe Transformation Initiative, we're building a stronger middle class by championing initiatives that take care of people so they can afford to live and thrive in Western NY. I am proud of the work we've done as a state delegation, with the support and partnership of Governor Hochul, Mayor Malik Evans and County Executive Bello, to deliver a Budget that protects New York's values, uplifts our families and provides relief from high costs on everyday items."

Governor Hochul highlighted historic investments made in her FY 27 Enacted Budget that go directly to making life in Rochester safer and more affordable for hard-working families to thrive.

Delivers on Promise of Universal Childcare with Monroe County Set to Pilot the Program

The Enacted Budget supports Monroe County's participation in one of the State's first three childcare pilot programs, which will offer high-quality affordable care to families regardless of income. The FY 2027 Budget enacts the Governor's childcare initiative, which expands childcare subsidies to tens of thousands of additional families and launches an Office of Child Care and Early Education to steer the implementation of high-quality, universal childcare for New York families.

Includes $1 Billion in One-Time Energy Rebate Checks and Institutes Governor Hochul's Sweeping Ratepayer Protection Plan

With New Yorkers struggling with high energy costs and record gas prices at the pump thanks to bad federal policies, the new budget includes one-time $1 billion Protecting Our Wallets Energy Rebate (POWER) checks to help provide needed relief. The POWER program will provide $200 to joint filers with incomes under $150,000 and $150 to joint filers with incomes between $150,000 and $300,000. Single filers with incomes under $150,000 will receive $100. The rebates will be issued as advanced credit checks and will be mailed out between September and December.

This year's Enacted Budget also puts New York families ahead of big energy companies. At the heart of this effort to modernize the State's approach to regulating utilities is a commitment to ensuring energy remains affordable. Energy profits will be tied to a company's ability to perform where it matters most: people's wallets. Utilities will be prohibited from passing the costs of lobbying, glossy PR campaigns, political donations, and luxury travel to New York ratepayers. Utility CEOs will have their salaries benchmarked to achieving energy affordability goals set by the Public Service Commission (PSC). And if a utility makes excess profit, that money will be returned to ratepayers.

Secures reforms to lower auto insurance premiums for New Yorkers

The FY27 Enacted Budget includes sweeping reforms designed to help drive down New York's exorbitantly high auto insurance rates, addressing the root causes by targeting fraud and tackling runaway litigation. No other Governor in a generation has taken on tort reform and walked away with a deal that will result in significant savings for New York consumers and businesses. The Budget also includes provisions that enable prosecutors to seek criminal penalties against any individual responsible for organizing a staged accident, not just the particular individual behind the wheel.

Delivers reforms to make it easier and more affordable to build housing and critical infrastructure

The Budget includes landmark reforms to slash through the red tape and government bureaucracy that has stymied desperately needed housing and crucial infrastructure projects by enacting Governor Hochul's "Let Them Build" agenda. The Budget includes a series of common sense changes to modernize the 50-year-old State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) and expedite categories of housing and infrastructure projects consistently found not to have any significant environmental impact, eliminating unnecessary costs, duplicative reviews and years of delay that raise costs for New Yorkers when they can least afford it.