Senator Webb and Assemblymember Kelles Deliver Historic Increase in AIM Funding to Local Municipalities

(CORTLAND, NY) – Senator Lea Webb and Assemblywoman Anna Kelles announced today that the enacted FY 2024-2025 State Budget includes nearly $6 million in Aid and Incentives to Municipalities (AIM) funding for Cortland and Tompkins Counties, an increase of more than 7% from last year’s budget. Included in the AIM funding is more than $2.2 million for the City of Cortland and nearly $3 million for the City of Ithaca, representing an 11.61% increase from the prior budget for both cities. This builds on ongoing efforts to strengthen AIM funding, including the AIM Higher Act carried by Assemblymember Kelles with Senator May (A9928/S8629) and the AIM Redesign Taskforce bill (S770) cosponsored by Senator Webb. 

Said Senator Lea Webb (SD52), “I am thrilled that we were able to deliver a long-overdue increase to AIM funding in this year’s budget to give our municipal leaders some flexibility as they complete important infrastructure projects in our cities, towns, and villages. Our municipalities rely on AIM funding to maintain their infrastructure and make necessary improvements. It is time to update the AIM formula to reflect inflation and revenue shortfalls facing our communities in the wake of the pandemic.”   

Said Assemblymember Anna Kelles (AD125), “AIM funding is the acknowledgement by the state that communities provide public services which benefit all New Yorkers. While costs and demands to provide these critical services have increased, New York Municipalities have waited over 15 years to receive an increase to their AIM funding. This funding plays a crucial role in the provision of everyday public services in our local communities such as salaries for firefighters and police officers. I am delighted that our communities will be able to fund these critical services and much needed updates to infrastructure.”

Said Mayor Robert Cantelmo, City of Ithaca, “I am grateful to Senator Webb and Assemblymember Kelles for their leadership in supporting this historic increase in AIM funding. Here in the City of Ithaca, this represents approximately 1% of the tax levy, granting needed relief to property owners. Additionally, this funding provides important financial support to our public sector workers. I look forward to collaborating with our state leaders as we continue to work toward future improvements to state aid.”

Said Ruth Groff, Town Supervisor, Town of Lansing, “Senator Webb and Assemblymember Kelles have once again shown their leadership and their commitment to our region in supporting this increase in AIM funding.  The Town of Lansing is extremely grateful for this additional funding for the coming year, as it will contribute to needed upgrades to our aging infrastructure."

The enacted FY2024-2025 state budget includes a $43.4 million increase in AIM funding, with a total of $758.1 million for the program statewide. Aid and Incentives to Municipalities (AIM) is the primary source of unrestricted state aid for local governments. Since the FY2011-2012 budget, AIM funding has been held flat at about $715 million. This is the first increase in more than a decade. 

In Cortland County, the 15 towns and 3 villages all received 7% increases in their enacted AIM funding, including nearly $50,000 for the Town of Homer. In Tompkins County, the 9 towns and 6 villages also received 7% increases in their enacted AIM funding, including over $55,000 for the Town of Dryden, and over $90,000 for the Town of Ithaca. 

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Photos from the Announcement (LINK) | Full Announcement Video (LINK)