A statewide effort to combat lead exposure and lead poisoning in rental properties in New York would receive $38.8 million in funding under the state budget proposal introduced this week by Gov. Kathy Hochul. 

But county health officials in New York believe the scale of the problem requires more funding, and more spending is needed to meet the requirements of the 2019 law meant to protect children under 6 from lead exposure. 

Hochul has touted New York's efforts to combat lead poisoning in kids. In January, Hochul celebrated the efforts of Rochester to address lead in many older residential buildings as a potential model for statewide efforts to address the problem. 

In New York, about 7,000 kids are annually diagnosed with elevated lead blood levels. 

Hochul's proposal would focus on 24 communities outside of New York City, which has its own abatement program for lead exposure. The funding would offset the cost of inspections and help pay for renovations when dangerous levels of lead are found. 

Local governments would also be able to receive federal funding for property owners to help with removal. 

But the New York State Association of County Health Officials, while encouraged by the proposal, said more is needed. 

A 2019 law in New York lowered the blood level necessary for public health officials to action on lead exposure in kids aged 6 and under from 10 micrograms to 5. That law needs at least $36 million for local health officials to fully implement, said Sarah Ravenhall, the group's executive director. 

"Due to these funding deficiencies, New York’s approach to childhood lead poisoning remains in a reactive, post-exposure treatment model," she said. "The state must provide the funds necessary to transition to an effective prevention model that will save thousands of children from exposure and the detrimental impact of lead poisoning. We will continue our work with the governor and the Legislature to add this critical funding into the state budget."