City Hall, NY – Speaker Adrienne Adams, Finance Committee Chair Justin Brannan, and Council Members joined Mayor Eric Adams to announce an agreement on a $115.9 billion budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026. Over $1.6 billion of the Council’s priorities were included in the Adopted Budget, including expanded 7-day library service to 10 new neighborhood libraries, a $50 million increase in immigration legal services, major investments in mental health care and public safety programs, and robust childcare and early childhood education funding. The budget also included $4 billion in capital funding, secured by the Council as part of its City for All housing plan, to support the creation and preservation of more affordable housing units and bolstering of neighborhood infrastructure.

The FY 2026 budget underscores the Council’s commitment to securing key restorations to preserve essential services that New Yorkers rely on and that allow for a safe and healthy City. The Council and the Administration were able to deliver an on-time budget that preserves many critical programs, including key PEG restorations, and makes deeper investments into areas where previous budget cuts have now been restored.

“The Council is proud to reach an agreement with Mayor Adams to deliver a city budget that takes critical steps forward to invest in the needs of New Yorkers and our city’s neighborhoods,” said Speaker Adrienne Adams. “The Fiscal Year 2026 budget will invest in expanded childcare for working families, more 7-day library service, and greater support for older adult services, maternal and mental health care, and proven public safety programs to reduce recidivism and help advance the closure of Rikers. This budget agreement is the product of the Council’s consistent and relentless budget advocacy, alongside the people of our city and stakeholders, to deepen investments in the health, safety, and prosperity of all New Yorkers. I thank my colleagues in the Council for our unwavering commitment and collective work to secure the resources our communities and constituents deserve.”

“We are excited to announce that the ‘Best Budget Ever’ has gotten even better,” said Mayor Eric Adams. “Once again, our administration is proud to have worked with City Council Speaker Adams and the whole City Council to successfully deliver a responsible, on-time, and balanced Fiscal Year 2026 Adopted Budget that prioritizes public safety, affordability, and improved quality of life for all New Yorkers. This $115.9 billion budget builds on our work to protect $1.4 billion in critical programs facing stimulus cliffs; maintains funding for our flagship institutions like CUNY, cultural institutions, and libraries; launches our landmark ‘After School for All’ program by investing more money in free universal after-school programming, and keeps our city on a path to 35,000 uniformed officers by fall of 2026. Today, we are proud to announce new initiatives that invest in our legal support for some of our most vulnerable neighbors, including New York City Public Schools immigrant students and families. This budget also invests in making our city more affordable and livable by supporting our minority-and-women-owned businesses, launching the Department of Sustainable Delivery to regulate e-bikes, launching a pilot program to provide childcare for infants and toddlers through two-years-of-age, and stabilizing school budgets so no school receives less funding despite enrollment drops. Next fiscal year will also be the first-time our ‘Axe the Tax’ plan will be in effect, putting $63 million back in the pockets of 582,000 low-income New Yorkers and their families. Because of our strong fiscal management, our economy is robust, and we are able to make smart investments that help us achieve our mission of making New York City a safer, more affordable city that is the best place to raise a family.”

“Budgets are ultimately about choices. Over the past 4 years, this Council has successfully negotiated more than $4 billion in restorations and investments above what the Mayor wanted to do,” said Council Member Justin Brannan, Chair of the Council Finance Committee. “This year, we were finally able to convince City Hall to join the City Council to actually invest in the people who make New York City work. Today we are delivering nearly $1.7 billion in new investments and, for the first time in many years, we are baselining funding at historic levels so these annual budget dances over essential services can finally be a thing of the past. To address one of the leading drivers of New York City’s stubborn affordability crisis, the City Council has announced a new initiative to provide free child care for children 0-2. This pilot program will help hundreds of low-income families and represents a giant leap toward making New York the first American city to provide free universal childcare for new parents. This is in addition to critical allocations to CUNY, housing, mental health services, our libraries, schools, and cultural institutions. Today we are proving you can Trump-proof a budget while still doubling down on what matters most. Today we are delivering a balanced, on-time budget, setting aside $8.5B in reserves and still investing in making our city safer, healthier, and more affordable.”

The Council was successful in working with the Administration to secure a balanced FY 26 budget as a result of higher revenue projections and available resources, consistent with the Council’s Executive Budget forecast.

Highlights of Council priorities added to the FY 26 budget through negotiations include:

Early Childhood Education

  • Pre- School Special Education – $125 million, including $55 million baselined for special education Pre-K expansion and $70 million in FY26 for evaluations, services, and classes.
  • 3-K and Pre-K Restoration – $112 million baselined in funding for 3-K and Pre-K programming to continue providing a robust early childhood education program.
  • Promise NYC – $25 million to continue the Promise NYC childcare program in Fiscal 2026.
  • Full Day/Full Year Early Childhood Education Seats – $25 million baselined to continue providing additional full day/full year 3-K seats in high-need communities.
  • Infant and Toddler Childcare – $10 million to expand access to early childhood education for families with children 0 – 2 years old.
  • Outreach and Marketing for Early Childhood Education – $5 million for outreach and marketing of 3-K and Pre-K programs to families.

K-12 Programs and Services

  • New York City School Support Services – $154 million in City tax-levy funds for Fiscal 2026 to replace the expiring federal funds budget for New York City School Support Services.
  • Arts Funding – $41 million baselined beginning in Fiscal 2026, continuing to provide funding for arts programming at current levels.
  • Teacher Recruitment – $23 million baselined to fund the recruitment and retention of public school teachers
  • Community Schools – $14 million restored and baselined to substitute for expiring City funds and cover the costs of keeping necessary programming in these 80 Community Schools.
  • Restorative Justice – $12 million restored and $6 million baselined for restorative justice programming, which provides alternatives exclusionary to punitive discipline with the aim of keeping students in the classroom.
  • Affinity Network – $10 million baselined to maintain Affinity Network programming at current levels.
  • Mental Health Continuum – $5 million starting in Fiscal 2026 to continue supporting clinics and other services provided as part of the inter-agency partnership to provide mental health support to all students.
  • Digital Learning – $5 million to fund the DOE’s use of digital tools and software.
  • Immigrant Family Engagement – $4 million baselined to provide support for language access, share school-related updates, send translated paper notices to families’ homes, and more.
  • Computer Science for All – $4 million baselined to maintain computer science programming in NYC public schools at current levels.
  • High-Impact Tutoring – $4 million baselined to maintain high-impact tutoring programming, which provides intensive and individualized academic support in grades K-2, at current levels.
  • Student Success Centers – $3 million to maintain Student Success Centers, which provide support for high school students in the college admissions process, at current levels.
  • LGBTQIA+ Inclusive Curriculum – $2.8 million to fund DOE’s effort to support the needs of LGBTQIA+ youth and address the intersectionality of race, sexual orientation and gender identity through DOE’s general curriculum.
  • Civics for All – $2 million baselined to maintain Civis for All programming, which provides opportunities for students to develop skills and engage in their communities.
  • Outward Bound Crew Model – $1.6 million baselined to maintain the Crew program at public schools operated by Outward Bound.
  • Parent and Family Engagement Funding – $1 million baselined to maintain engagement programming at current levels, including the New York City Ambassadors Program which trains parents in leadership and mentorship.
  • Athletic Trainer Pilot – $360,000 to continue the pilot program to hire athletic trainers at three high schools on Staten Island for a second school year.

City University of New York

  • CUNY Funding & Restorations – $109.5 million for CUNY, including $94.5 million baselined for PEG restorations and $15 million for operational support. $10.1 million for CUNY ACE in Fiscal 2026, $5.5 million for CUNY ASAP for All with $1 million baselined starting in Fiscal 2026, and $1 million baselined for CUNY STEM.
  • CUNY Reconnect – $7.8 million in Fiscal 2026 to support expanded higher education services.
  • CUNY Social Work Fellows – $2 million in FY26 to reduce financial barriers for CUNY students entering the social work field.

A Healthier and Safer City

  • Public Defenders – $20.4 million baselined to support public defenders and better allow lawyers to provide legal services to eligible low-income clients.
  • Intensive Mobile Treatment Step-Down Program – $11 million in the Fiscal 2026 budget for the creation of a pilot step-down program for clients who have progressed in their recovery and require less-intensive services.
  • Supervised Release Intensive Case Management Pilot Expansion – $9.1 million to connect more people with serious mental illness and addiction issues with services, to ensure they come to court, and keep them from re-offending. Fiscal Year 2026’s funding will also support juvenile youth who do not qualify for the current narrow criteria.
  • Alternatives to Incarceration Restoration – $8.9 million, including $7.6 million baselined, for Alternative to Incarceration programs that provide services tailored to participants, which can help reduce unnecessary incarceration and recidivism.
  • Reentry Services– $8 million, in funding, with $4.7 million baselined, to restore cuts and better serve formerly incarcerated individuals.
  • Electronic Monitoring Capacity Increase – $5 million to further reduce the number of people held in correctional facilities and work towards lowering the population on Rikers Island.
  • Justice Involved Supportive Housing – $4.8 million to enhance Justice Involved Supportive Housing (JISH) to fulfill the City’s previous commitment to provide 500 supportive housing units for individuals leaving Rikers.
  • Trauma Recovery Centers – $4.8 million in Fiscal 2026 to sustain the centers that provide wraparound services and coordinated care to underserved crime victims, including mental health, physical health, legal services, and other supports.
  • Assertive Community Treatment Step-Down Program – $4.5 million in Fiscal 2026 for the creation of a step-down program for Assertive Community Treatment clients who have progressed in their recovery and require less-intensive services.
  • Mental Health Clubhouses – $3 million to continue supporting the operation of Mental Health Clubhouses that lost city contracts to provide individualized care grounded in a community-centered approach.
  • Culturally Specific Gender Based Violence Initiative – $3 million enhancement to provide services specifically for immigrant survivors of domestic violence that may include interpretation, referrals, counseling and legal representation for U Visas and T Visas.
  • Syringe Redemption Pilot Program – $3 million to provide clean needles, test strips, access to addiction treatment medication, and other social services.
  • Crisis Respite Centers – $2.5 million in Fiscal 2026 to support expanded operations of the centers that provide community-based mental health care.
  • Legal Services for Domestic Violence Survivors – $2 million to establish a pilot program to provide free brief legal assistance and full legal representation to domestic violence survivors in divorce proceedings. It is estimated that $2 million could service approximately 800 low-income domestic violence survivors.
  • Brooklyn DA Project Restore – $2 million to fund a community-based gang violence intervention program for impacted youth in Brooklyn
  • South Bronx Community Justice Center – $2 million in FY26 to support the operations and programming of the South Bronx Community Justice Center
  • MCCAP Initiative – $2 million enhancement to assist New Yorkers with healthcare and insurance needs.
  • Nurse Family Partnership – $1.5 million to improve maternal health outcomes and reduce disparities, ensuring access to resources and support for at-risk communities.
  • Housing Stability Microgrants to Domestic Violence Impacted Individuals (ENDGBV) – $1.2 million for low-barrier microgrants to survivors with the aim of helping impacted individuals maintain safe and stable housing.
  • Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) – $1.2 million baselined for new staff.
  • EMS Wellness Support Pilot – $1 million in Fiscal 2026 for the creation of a pilot program that provides peer support and wellness programming for the City’s EMS workers.
  • Maternal Health Expansion and Maternal Mental Health Support – $593K in Fiscal 2026 to support physical and emotional wellness for mothers during and after pregnancy.
  • Board of Corrections (BOC) – $339K, including $252K baselined to fill vacant BOC positions; $87K OTPS.
  • Prevailing Wage for Homeless Shelter Security – $63.5 million to account for the prevailing wage required by local law.

Institutional Pillars of NYC

  • Arts and Cultural Organization Support – $45 million baselined to restore support for the cultural community, plus an additional $30 million in FY26.
  • Library Support and Restoration – $30.7 million in operating support funding for the City’s three library systems in Fiscal 2026, and an additional $2 million to expand 7-day library service to 10 additional branches citywide.  
  • Litter Basket Service Restoration – $29.7 million baselined for litter basket service to ensure consistent street cleanliness and reduce waste-related complaints across New York City.
  • Urban Park Rangers, Tree Stump Removal, Forestry Management, and Green Thumb Program Restoration – $11.7 million to restore, enhance, and baseline funding for Urban Park Rangers, additional tree stump removal, forestry management and the GreenThumb program.
  • Parks Workers – $6.1 million for the Parks Department starting in Fiscal 2026 to hire over 70 additional parks maintenance workers and lifting of the 2:1 hiring freeze for certain positions.
  • Containerization Policy Trash Bin Acquisition Fund – $5 million to support BIDs by supplementing the purchase of containers. These funds will support the purchase of 2,500 Empire Bins for the BIDs.
  • Lot Cleaning Restoration – $820,000 baselined to fund dedicated personnel and avoid vacant lots from becoming neglected and hotbeds for illegal dumping.

Opportunity and Services for New Yorkers

  • Aging Program Funding Gap and Restoration – $104.5 million in funding baselined for older adult PEG restorations to address the funding gap in the Preliminary Plan and ensure continuity of services, plus $4.78 million baselined to increase home delivered meals reimbursement rates and $2 million in FY26 for case management.
  • Immigration Legal Services – $74.7 million: $33.6 million to ensure continuity of services and to help defend immigrants against ongoing aggressive, anti-immigrant policies, $24.6 million for the New York Immigrant Family Unity Project, and $16.5 million to fund legal counsel for children in removal proceedings, social services to children appearing on the Juvenile and Surge Dockets in New York Immigration court, and legal services to “Adults with Children” (“AWCs”).
  • Emergency Food Programs – $51.1 million in funding, including $36.1 million in funding for the Community Food Connection Program and an additional $15 million to support food pantries and providers.
  • HIV/AIDS Services Administration (HASA) Emergency Shelter Units – $39.6 million to more closely align with actual spending.
  • Fair Fares Baseline Funding – $25 million in FY26 to restore previous funding and increase program eligibility to 150% of the Federal Poverty Level.
  • Right to Counsel -$15.6 million to support civil attorneys and help ensure the provision of legal services to all eligible clients.
  • Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) Metrocards – $11 million in FY26 to provide Metrocards to youth participating in SYEP
  • Shelter to Housing Action Plan – $10.1 million to assist the unhoused population transition to permanent housing.
  • Reducing Delayed Payments to Non-Profits – $9.5 million to Mayor’s Office of Contract Service’s (MOCS) budget to restore funding that was cut during a previous PEG, including $1.5 million baselined for 20 new positions, $600 thousand in FY26 for operational support, and $7.4 million for maintenance and enhancement.
  • Adult Literacy Initiative – $8 million to support basic literacy, English for Speakers of Other Languages and High School Equivalency classes, as well as civics education classes, for adults who cannot read, write or speak English, in addition to funding support services such as counseling and case management
  • Trans Equity Programs – $6.5 million enhancement to support a range of services to help empower the transgender and gender non-conforming (TGNC) community.
  • Guaranteed Income Program – $3 million to provide direct cash grants to expecting mothers and foster youth facing housing insecurity
  • Low Wage Worker Support – $2.2 million to fund legal services, outreach, and education to low-wage workers in need of employment-related civil legal services.
  • Runaway and Homeless Youth (RHY) Navigators – $3.2 million: $1.6 million for RHY Housing Navigators and $1.6 million RHY Peer Navigators, staff that support runaway homeless youth
  • Minority Owned Business Accelerator – $1 million starting in Fiscal 2026 to initiate a Minority Business Accelerator. This program would differ from existing programs as it would focus on growth, using cohort-based models rather than one-off programs.
  • Veteran Resource Centers – $540,000 to provide assistance to veterans with submitting claims and navigating various benefit and support programs.

“The guiding light for the Council has been always a budget that focuses on working New Yorkers and once again, this year’s budget is a testament to that commitment” said Deputy Speaker Diana Ayala. “From food insecurity to affordable housing and childcare, these investments in our city services ensure that New Yorkers can thrive in today’s challenging times. I am proud to have worked with this Council and this Speaker in fighting for a budget that reflects the needs of our constituents and builds on the success of our city.”

“This budget is the culmination of steadfast advocacy over the past 4 years,” said Majority Leader Amanda Farías. “Our communities made it clear what they need, and this Council has delivered. I was proud to be a part of the team that negotiated nearly $1.7 billion in Council priorities in this budget; including over $670 million in baseline funding for things like early childhood education, older adult services, and mental health initiatives. These investments reflect our dedication to building a City that works for everyone. We have guaranteed seven-day library service, enhanced immigrant legal services, and expanded services for survivors of domestic and gender based violence. After years spent restoring cuts, the Council was able to move forward, deepen our support, and reaffirm our commitment to the City we believe in. I am proud of the work the Council has done to safeguard key investments on time, and look forward to continuing to ensure investments are delivered.”

“When we began negotiations on the Fiscal Year 2026 budget, we did so at a time of immense challenges and uncertainty at the federal level, and we still must grapple with the risk of potentially devastating cuts that could have real and devastating impacts on New Yorkers,” said Council Member Sandra Ung. “The budget the City Council is delivering protects and, in some cases, enhances programs and services that keep our communities strong, safe and thriving, including funding for early childhood education and expanded legal services for immigrants. In a historic first, Speaker Adams and the City Council are creating a new initiative that will include dedicated funding for groups that provide culturally competent services for domestic violence survivors. Also for the first time ever, this budget includes funding to expand AAPI curriculum in public schools across the city, an initiative I have championed since taking office and worked with my AAPI colleagues to advocate for in this budget. I want to thank Speaker Adrienne Adams, the City Council Finance Division, and my colleagues for reaching agreement on a budget that reflects our values, our commitment, and our belief in a city where everyone has the opportunity to succeed.”

“The FY 26 budget negotiated by the City Council and the Mayor includes $51.9 million for new initiatives and $676.7 million for baselined items that don’t have to be negotiated in the future,” said Council Member Gale Brewer. “New Yorkers who care about the arts, libraries, human services, education, LGBTQ+ support, CUNY, legal services for immigrants and low income and working New Yorkers, as well as domestic violence and mental health services will be pleased. The budget also lists funds for tourism and economic development, vouchers for those seeking affordable housing, food pantries, and workers for our parks. Congratulations to the budget negotiators. With so many cuts from the Federal government, this budget tries to address the needs of New Yorkers, but there are always more problems that need to be addressed.”

“This budget agreement is a reflection of the needs and priorities of working-class individuals across New York City,” said Council Member Rita Joseph. “It delivers real, transformative investments for the people of New York City, especially our immigrant families, our children, and our communities most in need. Investment to rebuild and strengthen the Department of Education’s birth-to-five early childhood system, with a focus on infant and toddler care, will no longer be overlooked. Additionally, we are taking the step in the right direction towards bold investments in health, higher education, our parks, and vital city services — because every New Yorker deserves to thrive. This is a step toward equity, stability, and a stronger future for all our families.”

“The City’s FY26 budget reflects the Council’s commitment to funding vital programs that support families across our city,” said Council Member Linda Lee. “Alongside the launch of a historic universal childcare pilot, New York City is making critical investments in our mental health infrastructure, especially important amid fiscal uncertainty caused by federal funding cuts. With the restoration of funding for the 988 Crisis Hotline, expansion of mobile treatment teams, and increased capacity at crisis respite centers, we are dedicated to ensuring that New Yorkers experiencing a mental health crisis receive the comprehensive care they need. In addition, our City continues to prioritize mental health clubhouses, an evidence-based healthcare model, along with other proven peer-support services to provide life-changing care to individuals in need. These efforts are key to closing the revolving door of treatment and release that persists in our mental healthcare system. Thank you to Speaker Adams, the leadership team, and the rest of the Budget Negotiating Team for championing the investments New Yorkers deserve.”

“As the saying goes, a budget is a reflection of our values, and this budget shows that we value strong, vibrant neighborhoods, the well-being of our families, and the opportunity for all New Yorkers to thrive,” said Council Member Mercedes Narcisse. “We’ve made critical investments that will strengthen our communities, support our families, and ensure essential services like affordable housing, healthcare, and education. I want to thank Speaker Adams, Finance Chair Brannan, and my colleagues on the Budget & Negotiation Team for their leadership in securing these important investments. As we move forward, our focus remains on expanding these investments to ensure the success of our greatest resource, the people of our great city.”

“This budget reflects months of intentional, hard work to protect and expand the resources New Yorkers rely on investing consciously in our schools, public services, and the programs that support families and workers across the city,” said Council Member Nantasha Williams. “But securing funding is only the first step. We have to hold agencies accountable and make sure our government delivers. That’s how we build trust, make real progress, and strengthen communities. There’s still more to do supporting the Commission on Human Rights, protecting working-class homeowners, and making sure core services are funded and functioning. That’s the work ahead, and it’s work I’m committed to.”

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