NYS 224 funding Information 2023

Letter Writing Campaign

The goal of this campaign is to ensure that the New York State budget for 2024 includes the same amount of money as in 2023. Through New York Consolidated Laws, County Law - CNT § 224, the state is able to allocate funds to support Cornell Cooperative Extension at the state and county levels. For the 2023 budget, NYS increased the amount of funding to CCE for the first time in a decade, and this campaign shows gratitude and asks them to include the same additional funding as last year. While this funding is restricted to certain uses, the funds we get from the 224 budget line alleviates unrestricted funds for other purposes. In Dutchess County, we use these funds to help cover professional staff salaries that are not covered by other sources and to help us deliver varied and vibrant programming to all county residents at low or no cost.

The attached sample letter (found below in two easy formats) should be edited by you and sent to the Governor to request additional 224 funding by Thanksgiving.

This letter writing campaign is part of CCE Administration’s 224 funding strategy for the upcoming state fiscal year. The goal is to A) get the Governor to have $6.1 million in State 224 funding the budget and B) get the legislature to approve this level funding. All CCEs were asked to get as many volunteers as possible to write a letter supporting this request to Governor Hochul.

Feel free to tweak and personalize the attached template letter to the Governor. CCE Admin is requesting we report how many letters were sent by our county volunteers so please let us know when you mail your letter. They are asking for this to be done by Thanksgiving as the Governor’s staff are drafting her budget currently.

Draft letter WORD

Draft Letter PDF

Is this easier?

The process to electronically submit letters is as follows:

1. Go to https://www.governor.ny.gov/content/governor-contact-form

2. For the ‘topic’: choose ‘other’

3. For the ‘subject’: enter Cornell Cooperative Extension budget support

4. For the ‘message’: copy/paste the body of the attached letter