New York State will pay the local portion of flood repair costs taken on by local governments during the flooding in the summer of 2013.

The Federal Government had committed to paying 75% of those costs through FEMA funding which left local governments responsible for paying 12.5% of the remaining repair bills.

The State will now take on the local share of those costs, which in Herkimer County means a savings of $3.5 million.

“Immediately after the storms passed, I urged the governor to take this substantial unforeseen burden off the backs of local governments and taxpayers,” said Senator Seward.  “Today’s announcement means a great deal to local leaders as they craft their own municipal budgets and work to stay within the property tax cap and meet local needs and priorities.”

 

Senator Seward had pressed for the funding, along with legislation to rewrite New York State’s disaster response playbook to better prepare for floods and other storm events.

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