26-274 : Halton-Pope - Letter to Administration Regarding Unused State Infrastructure Funding

Councilwoman Leah M. Halton-Pope has sent a letter to the Commissioners of Public Works and Administration and Finance regarding nearly $40 million in unused state infrastructure funding. This funding, which includes:

• $23.5 million from the State Touring Route fund
• Almost $9 million from the local street and highway improvement program (CHIPS)
• $2.5 million from the Extreme Winter Recovery fund
• Almost $1.5 million from the PAVE-NY program

has not been utilized despite the city's infrastructure challenges. The Common Council seeks to understand why these funds remain unused, how they were secured, where they are held, any restrictions on their use, and the administration's future plans for them. The Commissioners are requested to attend the Common Council Finance Committee meeting on February 24, 2026, to address these questions.