Columbia County to Add $2.65 Million in State CHIPS Funds to Highway Budget

Columbia County public works staff told the committee on a June meeting that the county will receive $2,646,136.83 in state Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS) funding and asked the committee to add the money to the county budget.

The request matters because CHIPS funds are used for local road and highway repairs and a staff member said the county intends to use the money for hot‑mix patching, shoulder and drainage work and other highway maintenance. County staff described the award as part of a New York State budget increase that added $50 million in CHIPS funding this year and $50 million next year statewide.

County staff presented the dollar amount and moved a resolution to amend the county budget to include the CHIPS allocation. A committee member seconded the motion, and the committee voted “aye” to forward the resolution to the full board for final approval. No recorded opposition was stated during the meeting.

Committee members and staff discussed spending priorities in general terms, including pothole repair and shoulder work, but did not adopt a detailed line‑item spending plan in the meeting. Staff said some CHIPS money is already spoken for in upcoming projects and that exact allocations will be determined in subsequent budgeting steps.

The action is procedural: staff secured committee authorization to add the state CHIPS allocation to the county budget and to allow staff to begin planning its use. The resolution will next go to the full Columbia County Board for final approval and appropriation.

The committee did not identify any legal barriers to receiving or spending the funds; staff framed the request as a routine budget amendment tied to the state allocation.

Looking ahead, county staff said they will bring specific project spending proposals back to committees or the full board as needed.