Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente says the state is not "pulling the plug" on funding a new hospital for the Utica-area.

Picente and Utica Mayor Robert Palmieri met with top staff from Governor Andrew Cuomo's office and State Health Department officials in Albany after it was learned that $300 million for the hospital was being re-allocated in the new state budget.

Picente says the Governor has made a "strong commitment" to funding the project.

He says they made it clear that anything less than $300 million does not get the project done.

Picente says they'll continue meeting with state officials on the matter in the coming weeks.

Scott Perra, President and CEO of Mohawk Valley Health System, says a final decision on the hospital project, including a location for the new facility, will be made in the next couple of months.

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