In praise of the lengthy budget process | On Business

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Rochester and the whole Finger Lakes Region have a lot to be grateful for coming out of the New York State Budget process and Legislative Session. While, as always, there will always be critics, taking a step back to look at all we accomplished showcases an array of valuable results. From advocating for the passage of positive policy to lobbying to stop harmful regulations, this year’s session exemplifies the power of collaboration and what good governance looks like.

While this year’s budget process was an elongated one, the benefits of a thoughtful, strategic budget passed at the end of May far outweigh a rushed budget that was delivered on time but does not deliver for New Yorkers. With the additional time spent crafting this budget, legislators were able to spend time speaking with constituents and stakeholders and ensure that the enacted budget reflected the actual priorities of real people. And when the budget does what it needs to do, it reduces the time and impact spent on the so called “Big Ugly Bill,” usually passed in the final hours of session including overreaching and rushed policies on so many issues.

These additional conversations are exactly what we need. I have spoken multiple times in previous columns about the “Blueprint for Change” that Greater Rochester Chamber helped create last year alongside our statewide partners and members. I have repeatedly said that the process that was used to create this this document – gathering stakeholders and constituents, listening, collating thoughts, and presenting them for public comment – is how the legislative process should work, and is the essence of good government. This year, that happened.

I commend Governor Hochul, our Greater Rochester delegation and their teams for replicating that process this year, for truly listening and for showing up in and for our communities. The Governor stood firm and took bold action on issues that were important to our members and region. Thanks to their thoughtful consideration of our priorities, this year they delivered on many of the priorities outlined in the Blueprint — priorities that address longstanding problems that far predate the current administration but are now fixed. This budget’s focus on an all-of-above approach to energy, affordability and reliability, CLCPA timelines, and the Let Them Build agenda championed through SEQRA reforms are all key needs for our members and for our community. These, along with others passed this year, are flipping the narrative, stopping the bleeding, and setting New York state on a clear path forward.

This is especially profound in an election year when tensions are high and pressures are amplified. In spite of what some loud voices that will try to sway upcoming elections say, these policies do not “decimate” New York State’s climate leadership, but rather align us with realism and practicality, easing the financial burdens that push families and businesses out of New York. This year, our elected officials put forward a clear and unified message, backed by action, that promotes affordability and eases the issues that we face every day and slow down New York’s progress. And it’s worth reinforcing that you cannot champion this affordability agenda while also promoting regulatory burdens.

Just like our legislators collaborated with our community, we at Greater Rochester Chamber too are proud to collaborate with our partners and with our members. While we are not ones to take credit or thump our chest, the work put in by our members who shared their stories and our teams who amplified them is worth celebrating. This collaboration and work were critical to securing these wins and so many others, including the $300 million allocated for the Rochester-Monroe Transformation Initiative.

As we head into the summer and start to look to next year’s priorities and the future, I urge all involved with the legislative process to continue what was demonstrated in this year’s session. Moving forward, we have a chance to build on the momentum that was started here. To utilize this formula even earlier to establish legislative priorities from the start that reflect the path we need to move forward. Let’s take a moment today to thank the people who made this possible, and then look to the future. Creating real, meaningful, collaborative change in 2027 must start now.

Robert J. Duffy is president and CEO of Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce. Contact him at [email protected].