The Peconic Estuary Partnership was awarded more than double the funding under the final budget, according to Assemblyman Fred Thiele (I-Sag Harbor). The package includes $450,000 for the partnership, which received $200,000 in state funding last year. “We’re absolutely grateful for the support,” PEP executive director Joyce Novak said Friday, noting that state funding has remained stagnant for the last decade. The increase, she said, stems from years of advocacy work by the organization’s members. “It was time for the state to raise their buy-in to the program,” Ms. Novak said. She thanked Mr. Thiele and Assemblyman Steve Englebright (add party/location) as well as state Sen. Todd Kaminsky (ditto) for their support and noted that the increased allocation comes at a perfect time.