Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – There are 10 Christmas trees on the Orleabs County Courthouse lawn for the second year.

It’s part of an effort by a group of volunteers in the “Bring Christmas Back to Albion” committee. That group also spearheaded having 40 lampposts decorated for the holidays the past two years.

Lori Laine, one of the group’s members, said businesses or organizations are welcome to help decorate the trees on the courthouse lawn.

The Care Net Center of Greater Orleans decorated one of the trees.

Laine said people interested in decorating the trees are welcome to call her at (585) 738-1836.

Company, acquired by Hendrickson last year, looking to fill 60 positions locally

Photos by Tom Rivers: Brian Peyatt, plant manager for Brunner in medina, led tours of the factory on bates Road on Saturday. It was the first tour open to the community in more than a decade. The company makes brakes for tractor-trailers, buses and dump trucks.

MEDINA – Brunner International opened the doors to its factory on Bates Road to the community on Saturday and attendance was brisk.

Employees were happy to show off the workplace to friends and family, and Medina community members welcomed the chance to see the manufacturer which has robots doing some of repetitive tasks, forges heating steel to 2,200 degrees, and about 220 other workers.

Brunner has about 60 positions open right now, from entry level to skilled trades as machine operators, fabricators, electricians and in maintenance. People can apply in person at Brunner or through the Brunner website.

Brunner has had a presence in medina since 1992, moving into the former Abex Corporation site that had been shut down and vacant for seven years before Brunner moved in.

Brunner had a manufacturing site in Niagara Falls, Ontario. It has kept that site in Canada while growing in Medina, making brakes and components for heavy-duty trucks and trailers.

Jermy Zingo of Holley, a 14-year employee at Brunner, shows his daughter Evelyn the finished product at Brunner. The truck brake weighs about 250 pounds.

The company last year was sold to Hendrickson, a long-time customer. Hendrickson is based in Illinois. It sees strong potential in Medina with a dedicated core of employees and access to lower-cost hydropower, said Brian Peyatt, the plant manager.

Peyatt has worked at Brunner for 12 years. He said Saturday’s community open house was a first in his tenure at Brunner.

“We want to introduce ourselves to the community and show them what we do,” he said.

Hendrickson has factories in several countries, and US sites in Ohio, Illinois, Tennessee, Missouri, Texas, Kentucky, South Dakota, Indiana and New York (Medina).

In announcing the acquisition of Brunner on Oct. 1, 2023, Hendrickson said Brunner’s primary product lines of brake shoes and s-cams complement Hendrickson’s primary business of designing and manufacturing suspension systems for the medium- and heavy-duty truck and trailer markets.

The Brunner product brand will be kept and used going forward, Hendrickson officials said.

“We are excited about this acquisition, as it will provide a platform for Hendrickson to expand our core competency in braking and provide additional components that will enhance our existing product portfolio,” said Matt Joy, president and chief executive officer of Hendrickson. “We look forward to working with our new associates and strengthening our business serving the Commercial Truck and Trailer industry.”

Saamir Rahman, materials manager and director of continuous improvement for Brunner, shows some of the brake components made by Brunner. About 60 people were on the tour for the first three hours on Saturday.

Brunner has recently added a few of the laid off workers from the Sumitomo Rubber in the Town of Tonawanda. The factory abruptly closed last month, putting 1,550 people out of work.

Brunner went to a job fair for those displaced workers. Peyatt urges people to give Brunner a try. The company offers competitive wages, a 401K retirement plan, and health care, vision and dental benefits.

Peyatt said employees also can feel pride in making the brakes for trucks and buses.

“Ninety percent of the time you’re out on a drive you’re probably near something we built,” he said about the company’s brake products.

Provided photo: Aaron Grabowski, organist at St. Mary’s Church in Medina, is music director for the first Christmas concert Dec. 21 with Holy Family in Albion and St. Mary’s in Holley.

MEDINA – Three Catholic churches in the Orleans-Niagara East Catholic community known as ONE Catholic are combining their musical talents to present the first Christmas concert together.

Aaron Grabowski, organist at St. Mary’s Church in Medina, is music director for the concert at 7 p.m. Dec. 21 at St. Mary’s in Medina, where they will be joined by the choirs, soloists and instrumentalists from St. Joseph’s in Albion and St. Mary’s in Holley.

“This is a first for all three churches,” Grabowski said. “We hope to make it an annual event, as the feedback we’ve received from all three communities has been very positive.”

The concept for a combined concert began in Medina with Grabowski and his cantor Abigail Campbell. Several solos will be performed by people who are learning voice, he said.

“But the standout will be when we bring all the voices together to sing,” Grabowski said.

Instruments featured will be the organ, flute and a harpsichord which he built.

There is no admission charge, but a free-will offering will be taken. A reception will follow the approximately one-hour long concert.

MURRAY – The Murray Joint Fire District elected three fire commissioners on Tuesday, with current chairman Mark Porter defeated by Dave Knapp who was a write-in candidate.

Knapp and Dave Nenni were both elected to 5-year terms, and Scott Harrington was elected to a 1-year term.

In Barre, William Basinait was re-elected as commissioner with 11 votes, and Barry Flansburg was re-elected treasurer with 11 votes. There were 11 voters in the annual election.

In Kendall, Patrick Seaman, an incumbent, was re-elected as fire commissioner.

Photos by Ginny Kropf: (Left) Kristina Ettinger, new lead case manager at Community Action of Orleans & Genesee, shows one of the requests for Christmas gifts she has received. This year, 293 applications were received for holiday assistance, representing 793 individuals. (Right) This “Giving Tree” is on display at Community Action’s Main Street Corner Thrifts, Gifts and More Store, where people are invited to bring in their Christmas wish or take a wish and fill it.

ALBION – Kristina Ettinger started her new job as lead case manager at Community Action of Orleans and Genesee just in time to be greeted by the rush of applications for holiday assistance.

This year, 293 applications were received, representing 793 individuals, according to Renee Hungerford, executive director of Community Action.

Ettinger brings to the table previous experience as a prevention educator at GCASA, an employee of CRFS and M&T Bank.

She was contemplating a job change when she stopped at Community Action to turn in some paper work to Jeanette Worsley for her daughter. When Worsley mentioned that was her last day there, Ettinger got to thinking.

She already knew Jackie Dunham, chief operating officer at Community Action, so Ettinger sent her a message saying she was going to apply.

“Having been previously employed in human services, I knew the services Community Action offered, so I sent in my application and they hired me the next day,” Ettinger said.

She started Oct. 1.

Community Action has been providing holiday assistance to families in Orleans and Genesee counties for many decades, according to Hungerford.

This couldn’t be accomplished without the generous support of their communities.

Community Action receives very generous donations of toys from the Pirate Toy Fund in Spencerport, Ettinger said.

“Our local citizens are always very supportive, also, as are a lot of organizations,” she said. “Because of them, 149 kids will get toys for Christmas this year.”

Ettinger looked through the stack of requests on her desk, picking up one from a little boy who asked for a red rose to give to his mommy. Another child said his mom wanted a love seat, but she would be happy with anything she got.

A “Giving Tree” has been set up at the Main Street Corner Thrift, Gifts and More Store by manager Cassie Healy. There is still time for families to bring in their children’s Christmas wishes and hang them on the tree to be adopted. Healy said they had five wishes, all of whom were adopted by one individual.

The store is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. Individuals can still submit their children’s wishes as long as they are returned in time for families to pick up their holiday boxes on Dec. 19. Employees from Velocitii in Medina have volunteered to come and help hand out the boxes.

Healy has decided to leave the Giving Tree up through January. There are currently gift cards on the tree which anyone can choose to get a free winter coat, two pair of socks or $5 off any purchase in the Main Street Store.

“I want to help any people who need it through the winter,” Healy said.

Each family who requested assistance will receive gifts from children under the age of 18, in addition to plenty of food for Christmas dinner. This includes their choice of a ham, turkey or chicken; potatoes; stuffing; and a cookie mix. In addition, they each receive a produce box filled with items the Albion FFA collected. This includes a half gallon of milk, yogurt, apples, instant mashed potatoes, carrots, eggs and butter.

Donated produce which isn’t needed to fill the requests for food boxes has been given to other organizations which help those in need, such as food pantries, churches, day care centers, “Code Red,” Head Start and Care-A-Van Ministries in Batavia.

One lucky family who picks up their holiday box will receive a special treat for their children. The Medina Railroad Museum has donated two tickets to ride the Polar Express and Community Action will choose which family will receive them.

ALBION – Voters elected five commissioners and a treasurer for the Albion Joint Fire District on Tuesday, and also gave approval to establish reserve funds for equipment, fire trucks and building repairs.

The district was formed in a public referendum in August with approval from voters in both the towns of Albion and Gaines. The fire district will be its own taxing entity. The fire department budget will move out of the village budget. The towns of Albion and Gaines also paid the village for fire protection but now will pay in separate taxes for the fire district starting in January.

The elected commissioners include Albert Cheverie, 104 votes; David Buczek, 103 votes; Kevin Sheehan, 93 votes; Craig Lane, 89 votes; and Chris Kinter, 81 votes.

The commissioners’ terms will be for 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 years, depending on the vote totals for each. Cheverie, the highest vote-getter, gets the 5-year term and then the term length goes in descending order of votes with Buczek at 4 years, Sheehan at 3 years, Lane at 2 years and Kinter at 1 year.

In the future, there should be just one position commissioner up for election each year.

Two people sought to be treasurer. Victoria Tabor, who is currently in the role, was elected with 91 votes to 46 for Kristen Marciszewski.

Cheverie has served as chairman of the commissioners since the group first met on Aug. 20. Buczek, Lane and Kinter also are commissioners, along with Joe Martillotta who didn’t seek election on Tuesday.

The commissioners have approved a $872,222 budget for the joint fire district, which  provides fire protection in Albion and Gaines. That more than doubles the previous budget for the fire department.

The department hasn’t had any reserves for new equipment and trucks. Residents approved establishing reserve accounts in a 112-24 vote.

The budget for 2025 puts $250,000 into a “Apparatus Repair & Replacement Reserve” and $50,000 into a “Building Repair & Replacement Reserve.”

Cheverie, the chairman of the commissioners, previously said the district needs to replace two fire trucks fairly soon. A new ladder truck to replace one that is 27 years old is expected to cost $2.2 million. A new fire engine to replace one 32 years old would likely have a purchase price of $1.1 million.

The commissioners expect to start working on securing a new ladder truck in 2025, a process that could take four to five years before the new truck is in Albion. Setting aside money ahead of time will reduce the bond payments needed in the future, Cheverie said.

The district also has $50,000 set aside for the fire hall for either repairs or a potential replacement. Cheverie said there are no plans to leave the building on Platt Street anytime soon.

Passero Associates created this rendering of the front of the building, which includes an overhang near the entrance. This is part of a $5.2 million capital project at the library, which includes a 4,785-square-foot addition.

MEDINA – The community, in a close vote, approved a bond resolution today allowing the Lee-Whedon Memorial Library to borrow up to $5.2 million for an expansion of the building at 620 West Ave.

The resolution passed, 223-214. The library should be able to break ground on the construction project in mid-2025, said director Kristine Mostyn.

Lee-Whedon will work to complete the engineering drawings and go through the bidding process.

A 4,785-square-foot expansion would go on the back of the current library, which is 11,100 square feet.

The addition will create space for two meeting rooms, two tutoring rooms, a programming room with makerspace, Friends of the Library book sale room, a quiet research room, a teen room and 14 parking spots.

There would also be additional restrooms, a new circulation desk, a new entry portico with automatic sliding doors, about a 10 percent increase in the collection and upgraded technology.

The library already has $795,320 in grants secured and $175,000 in reserves, leaving a $4,229,680 to be financed over 20 years. That would result in a $48 a year increase in taxes for homes valued at $100,000, said Christine Crowley, president and municipal advisor with Fiscal Advisors and Marketing.

That represents the “worst-case scenario,” she said during a meeting last week, because the library is likely to get additional grants and raise money in a capital campaign.

The library is seeking an additional $789,520 grant from the state for library construction. If that is secured, the amount to be financed would be $3,4410,160, lowering the tax impact to an average of $39 for houses at $100,000 in assessed value, Crowley said.

The library also expects it could raise $500,000 in a fundraising or capital campaign. If that is successful, the amount to finance would be $2,940,160 or a $34 impact for property assessed at $100,000.

Lee-Whedon has already acquired and razed two buildings behind the library for the addition. That property and building demolition has already been paid for.

Band and lead singer Lou Gramm performed in Albion this past June

Lou Gramm performs with some of his Black Sheep band mates in Albion during a concert at the Pratt Event Center in Albion in the former Pratt Opera House. Michael Bonafede, drummer for the band in the mid 1970s, played the drums again for the reunion concert in a venue he owns with his wife, Judith Koehler. Black Sheep will be inducted in the 2025 Class of the Rochester Music Hall of Fame on April 13. After Black Sheep, Gramm went on to international stardom as lead singer of Foreigner, selling more than 80 million albums.

ROCHESTER – A band that featured Michael Bonafede on drums about 50 years ago is going into the Rochester Music Hall of Fame.

That band also included Lou Grammatico as lead singer. After Black Sheep stopped performing in 1976, Grammatico became Lou Gramm in his new band, Foreigner. That band launched Gramm into stardom, selling more than 80 million albums.

Foreigner was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on Oct. 19 in Cleveland.

Gramm hasn’t forgotten his hometown on Rochester. And he hasn’t forgotten his Black Sheep bandmates. The group has performed in reunion concerts, including two concerts on June 23 in Albion at the Pratt Event Center.

The Rochester Music Hall of Fame on Monday announced Black Sheep as one of three inductees of the 2025 Class. The others include the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and the Record Archive.

Black Sheep was a popular Rochester band in the 1970s, playing in high school gymnasiums for school dances and the Penny Arcade. The band was on a rapid trajectory, with two albums out by major record labels in 1975.

The band toured with Hall and Oates, Aerosmith and Kiss, and played with other big names. The band opened for Kiss in Boston, and was coming home and was in an accident on an icy road. The crash destroyed the band’s equipment, and they weren’t able to find a replacement in time to keep touring. That prematurely put an end to the band in 1976. Gramm would join Foreigner not long after with the support of his Black Sheep band mates.

Tony Gross, a board member for the Rochester Music Hall of Fame, noted Gramm was inducted in the local Hall of Fame in 2013. He will be the first two-time selection.

“We applaud Lou, we applaud the band and what they’ve done for the community,” Gross said during a news conference on Monday at the Record Archive, which is celebrating its 50^th anniversary in 2025.

Bonafede has been a champion of the arts in Albion. He served many years on the Albion Board of Education, including as president. The district has perennially been recognized with national awards for its music program.

He also has diligently brought back the opera house on the third floor of the Pratt building on Main Street, opening the stage to performers in the community and beyond. For many years he also served as chairman of the Strawberry Festival, which features many bands in the parade and at venues in the festival.

Black Sheep will get back together again. This time on April 13 during the Hall of Fame induction at the Eastman Theatre.

For more on the Rochester Music Hall of Fame, click here.

Some of the performers take a bow after the performance on June 23, featuring some of the Black Sheep band members. From left include Michael Bonafede, Alona Kuhns, Lou Gramm, Don Mancuso, Larry “Rose” Crozier and Luke Crozier.

2 also running unopposed for Barre Fire District

There are elections in four fire districts in Orleans County today, plus a referendum on whether the Lee-Whedon Memorial Library can take out a bond up to $5.2 million for an expansion.

The Albion Joint Fire District will have its first election today from 4 to 9 p.m. at Hoag Library.

There have been five appointed commissioners and an appointed treasurer serving since August, with their first meeting on Aug. 20.

Of the current five commissioners, four will be on the ballot in the Dec. 10 election. Joe Martillotta opted against running to be an elected commissioner.

Albert Cheverie, Craig Lane, Chris Kinter and David Buczek all were appointed and are running for election. Kevin Sheehan, a former village trustee and mayor, also is seeking an elected position.

The commissioners’ terms will be for 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 years, depending on the vote totals for each. The highest vote-getter gets the 5-year term and then the term length goes in descending order of votes. After the December election, the commissioner election should have one position up for election each year.

Two people are running for treasurer. Victoria Tabor has been in the position since August. She is running for election along with Kristen Marciszewski.

Voters will also be asked whether the fire district can create reserve accounts for equipment and fire trucks.

The Murray Joint Fire District has three commissioners up for election. The vote will be from 6 to 9 p.m. at the fire hall in Holley at 7 Thomas St.

There will be two commissioners for five-year terms and one for a one-year term. The Murray candidates are unopposed: Mark Porter and Dave Nenni for 5-year terms; and Scott Harrington for a 1-year term.

The Lyndonville Joint Fire District also has an election today from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Lyndonville fire hall at 148 N Main St., Lyndonville. One commissioner for a five-year term is up for election.

Ed Jay, a current commissioner, is unopposed for a five-year term.

The Barre Fire District also has an election today and both positions are unopposed on the ballot.

William Basinait is seeking a five-year as fire commissioner and Barry Flansburg is seeking a three-year as treasurer. Flansburg has served as treasurer since 1991.

Polls are open from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Barre Fire Hall.

The Lee-Whedon Memorial Library expansion will have voting today from noon to 8 p.m. at Medina Central School District board room, next to the high school.

Registered voters in the Medina school district will be asked whether the library can take out a bond up to $5.2 million for a proposed 4,785-square-foot addition to Lee-Whedon Memorial Library.

The expansion would go on the back of the current library at 620 West Ave. The current building is 11,100 square feet.

The 4,785-square-foot addition would create space for two meeting rooms, two tutoring rooms, a programming room with makerspace, Friends of the Library book sale room, a quiet research room, a teen room and 14 parking spots.

There would also be additional restrooms, a new circulation desk, a new entry portico with automatic sliding doors, about a 10 percent increase in the collection and upgraded technology.

The library already has $795,320 in grants secured and $175,000 in reserves, leaving a $4,229,680 to be financed over 20 years. That would result in a $48 a year increase in taxes for homes valued at $100,000, said Christine Crowley, president and municipal advisor with Fiscal Advisors and Marketing.

That represents the “worst-case scenario,” she said at a meeting last week, because the library is likely to get additional grants and raise money in a capital campaign.

The library is seeking an additional $789,520 grant from the state for library construction. If that is secured, the amount to be financed would be $3,4410,160, lowering the tax impact to an average of $39 for houses at $100,000 in assessed value, Crowley said.

The library also expects it could raise $500,000 in a fundraising or capital campaign. If that is successful, the amount to finance would be $2,940,160 or a $34 impact for property assessed at $100,000.

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Erica Wanecski, center, is given a pair of tickets for the Polar Express by Medina Railroad Museum director Jeff Lewis, in appreciation of her hours of volunteering at the museum and throughout her community. Looking on, from left are board member Dave Murphy; Lew Capwell, event consultant with Rail Events; and Joe Kujawa, also a board member.

MEDINA – A local woman who thrives on volunteering was rewarded for her efforts by the Medina Railroad Museum on Monday.

To show their appreciation for all she does, Museum director Jeff Lewis presented Erica Wanecski with two tickets to ride the Polar Express. There to share in her honor were board members Dave Murphy and Joe Kujawa and Lew Capwell, event coordinator from Rail Events, who own the rights to Polar Express.

Lewis acknowledges that events like Polar Express require a lot of volunteers to make them happen.

“Since all our trains were sold out and we added an extra day, we thought, ‘Why not recognize the volunteers, without whom we couldn’t do this,” Lewis said. “So we picked someone who goes above and beyond and has been here the longest – Erica.”

“She is truly a distinguished volunteer,” Capwell said. “She shows exemplary leadership.”

He said this is his second year of representing Rail Events at Medina’s Polar event, and he loves the town.

“This event has grown over last year,” Capwell said. “This Museum is a real asset. Kids love the layout.”

Wanecski loves helping others, learning new things and sharing them with her community. She is especially fond of volunteering at the Medina Railroad Museum.

“I knew founder Marty Phelps, even before he started this museum,” Wanecski said. “I have been here from the beginning.”

Erica Wanecski, left, was at the Master Gardeners’ booth at the Orleans County 4-H Fair in July with nancy Walker, another Master Gardener. Volunteering as a Master Gardener is one of Wanecski’s favorite pastimes.

Wanecski, 74, loves history and her community. Telling people about them is the joy of her life. She is a member and/or volunteer of Medina Historical Society, Cobblestone Society, Attica, Warsaw, Oakfield, Clarence and Hartland Historical societies, Master Gardeners and the Steel Plant Museum in Buffalo. She maintains flower beds at Medina Memorial Hospital and helps many of the museums with their landscaping, weeding, collections and setting up exhibits.

“I was inspired by Marty and his passion,” Wanecski said. “If I can add to other people’s experience, then they walk away happy, and I’m happy. The message I want to share is for everyone to find their passion and consider volunteering and sharing their time with others. You’ll find it a very positive and rewarding experience.”

All 7 towns have now voted for Mercy in $250,000 agreement

Photo by Tom Rivers: A Mercy Flight EMS ambulance and crew was in service on Sept. 20 at an Albion varsity football game. Mercy Flight is using the former COVA base in Albion.

GAINES – The Town of Gaines on Monday voted in favor of Mercy Flight EMS to provide ambulance services in the town for the next three years.

Gaines is part of a seven-town consortium that has contracted for ambulance services since 2023. Monroe Ambulance was the provider in 2023 and 2024 in one-year contracts.

“It basically came down to a cost difference between the two,” said Tyler Allport, the Gaines town supervisor. “It’s the same service but Mercy is more affordable.”

The seven towns put out an RFP (request for proposals) and Mercy Flight was the low bidder at $250,000 in 2025, $275,000 in 2026 and $300,000 in 2027.

Monroe Ambulance’s bid was $570,000 in 2025. The two organizations offered similar services in the bid – two basic life support ambulances, and one advanced life support fly car in the seven towns for 24 hours a day, seven days a week. A fly car doesn’t transport patients, but will have personnel that can provide higher levels of care than the BLS ambulances.

Mercy Flight plans to stage ambulances and the fly car at the former COVA base on South Main Street in Albion and the Fancher-Hulberton-Murray fire hall on Hulberton Road in Murray.

The contract increases ambulance services from the agreements in 2023 and 2024 when Monroe agreed to one ALS ambulance based in Albion and a BLS ambulance based in Holley for 12 hours at the firehall and then 12 hours from Brockport at Strong West.

Monroe was paid $300,000 by the seven towns in 2024, and was paid $181,200 in 2023. (It would have been $200,000, but Kendall didn’t pay in the first year.)

“I want to thank Monroe for the level of service,” Allport said during Monday’s Town Board meeting. “They’ve had a stellar record for the Town of Gaines.”

With the Gaines vote, all seven towns have now ratified the contract, which starts Jan. 1 and goes until Dec. 31, 2027.

The seven towns are divvying up the costs based on a percentage of current call volume.

Here is the financial breakdown for the seven towns in the contract for 2025:

• Albion, $93,000 ($155,820 in 2024)
• Barre, $11,000 ($13,740 in 2024)
• Carlton, $18,500 ($22,350 in 2024)
• Clarendon, $28,000 ($25,350 in 2024)
• Gaines, $38,500 ($12,030 in 2024)
• Kendall, $12,750 ($17,850 in 2024)
• Murray, $48,250 ($52,860 in 2024)

Medina Fire Department is the primary ambulance provider in western Orleans for the towns of Shelby, Ridgeway and Yates. Each of the towns pays Medina $35,000 a year and those funds go towards the cost of a new ambulance.

Individuals would get $300 refunds if they earn less than $150K

Press Release, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office

 As her first proposal for the 2025 State of the State, Governor Kathy Hochul today proposed New York State’s first-ever Inflation Refund, which would deliver about $3 billion in direct payments to around 8.6 million New York taxpayers statewide in 2025. This new refund would send a payment of $300 to single taxpayers who make up to $150,000 per year, and a payment of $500 for joint tax filers making up to $300,000 per year.

Today’s announcement is one of several proposals to help address the cost of living that will be unveiled as part of the Governor’s upcoming State of the State.

“Because of inflation, New York has generated unprecedented revenues through the sales tax — now, we’re returning that cash back to middle class families,” Governor Hochul said. “My agenda for the coming year will be laser-focused on putting money back in your pockets, and that starts with proposing Inflation Refund checks of up to $500 to help millions of hard-working New Yorkers. It’s simple: the cost of living is still too damn high, and New Yorkers deserve a break.”

Governor Hochul’s proposed Inflation Refund is a one-time, direct payment that will reach New Yorkers throughout every corner of the state.

New Yorkers who recently filed tax returns will be eligible for the payment. Taxpayers who are single, head of household, or married filing separately, will be eligible if their income was no greater than $150,000. Resident couples filing jointly will be eligible if their income was no greater than $300,000.

If this proposed Inflation Refund is passed by the State Legislature, payments will be made starting Fall 2025.