The state budget has finally passed, long after it should have. Let us be clear from the start: This is not a budget worthy of celebration. It spends too much. It came too late. It carries with it the marks of a state government that too often confuses activity with achievement and spending with leadership. For families, farmers, seniors, small businesses and school districts across Western New York, this budget does not fully answer the most important question before us: How do we make New York a more affordable place to live, raise a family, and do business?

And yet, even in an imperfect budget, there are victories worth recognizing. They were not handed down as gifts. They were not granted out of sudden wisdom by Albany’s one-party leadership. They were won through steady effort, relentless pressure and the tireless work of Assembly Republicans who refused to yield the common sense of our constituents.

For years, we have warned that Albany’s energy mandates were racing ahead of reality. We said families could not afford them. We said school districts could not implement them. We said the electric grid was not ready for them. We said rural communities would be left carrying the burden for policies designed by people who too often do not understand life outside New York City.

This year, after years of resistance, Albany finally began to retreat from the edge. The budget includes changes requiring affordability, feasibility and economic growth to be considered when climate mandates are developed. It changes emissions timelines and measurement standards. It provides a minimal rebate to ratepayers. Though it does not go nearly far enough, it marks an important turn. It is an admission that energy policy cannot be built on fantasy. It must be grounded in cost, reliability and the daily lives of the people who pay the bills.

That same persistence delivered another small victory with respect to the zero-emission school bus mandate. Assembly Republicans fought against forcing school districts to buy electric buses. In this budget, the purchasing mandate was delayed from 2027 to 2032, and full implementation was pushed from 2035 to 2040. For rural districts like ours, it means a little bit more time, but local taxpayers will be forced to bear this cost soon. Hopefully, with continued advocacy, the Legislature will consider an “opt out” for school districts where electric school buses make no sense.

We also secured a minimal increase in local infrastructure. The budget includes $698.1 million for the Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program, $200 million for BRIDGE-NY, $150 million for PAVE-NY and $100 million for Extreme Winter Recovery. In Western New York. It is really shameful that only 0.43% of the entire state budget goes to state infrastructure projects like roads and bridges. Though the state budget continues a lot of wasteful spending, we continue to advocate for the responsible use of your tax dollars.

We finally fixed a law that eliminated the “death gamble” for our correction officers. The families of our hardworking men and women who put themselves in harms way every day to secure our correctional facilities should not lose their pensions if killed while at work; While suffering this injustice for years, correction officers were forced to retire to secure retirement benefits for their family members, but now be they will be protected if the worst happens.

But no one should mistake these victories as an endorsement of the state budget as a whole. This budget was crafted in the dark between three people, it was late, its spends our tax dollars recklessly, it increases taxes, and it contains policy in violation of our constitution. New Yorkers deserve leadership in Albany that prevents problems outright, instead of “leadership” that fixes the same problems it created.

Your voice and your values matter. When Assembly Republicans stood against unrealistic energy mandates, Albany was forced to listen. When we defended school districts from unaffordable requirements, Albany was forced to move. When we requested tax dollars go to fix our local roads and bridges, Albany increased funding. When we demanded protection of correction officers, Albany was forced to give ground.

Though the work continues, I will keep fighting for you until New York once again becomes a state where people want to live, raise a family, and do business.

Assemblyman Andrew Molitor represents Chautauqua County in the state Assembly.