Over the next few months, my colleagues in the state Legislature and I will be hard at work negotiating the 2020-21 state budget. From investing in our children’s education at every level to helping New Yorkers access the programs and services they rely on, the state budget provides our communities with the critical funding necessary to grow and thrive.

As your representative in Albany, it’s my top priority to ensure that our state budget uses taxpayer dollars responsibly and in the best interest of all New Yorkers. That’s why your input is absolutely paramount during the budget process. My annual budget town halls give me the opportunity to hear directly from you on what you want from our state budget so I can better advocate for Central New York communities. I’ll be holding town halls throughout the month of February and invite everyone to come out, learn about the budget process and voice your opinions on the issues that matter most.

Last year’s budget included important funding that helped our communities, but there are more areas that I’ll be working to protect, strengthen and expand in this year’s budget. That includes bridging the gap between the local workforce and emerging industries, creating opportunities for good-paying jobs and investing in the tools and resources our students need to get ahead.

To learn about the state budget process and stay informed, I encourage everyone to join me at one of my town hall meetings:

• 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13: Pompey Town Hall, 8354 U.S. Route 20

• 6:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 18: Manlius Library, 1 Arkie Albanese Ave.

• 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20: Clay Town Hall, 4401 Route 31

• 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27: NOPL North Syracuse, 100 Trolley Barn Lane

I look forward to hearing from you. However, if you can’t make it out to any of our upcoming meetings or have questions about another community issue, my door is always open. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at [email protected] or by calling 315-452-1115.