The New York City Council earlier this week released its response to Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s Preliminary Budget proposal, offering an alternative budgeting path for Fiscal Years 2026 and 2027.
The response offers the necessary resources to fund spending priorities without increasing taxes on property owners and renters, reducing funding for critical services or diminishing NYC’s reserves.
City Council’s plan looks to close an estimated $6 billion budget shortfall through the use of multiple proposals for new resources. See the full response here.
“Amid a serious affordability crisis impacting New Yorkers across the city, the Council has a responsibility to act as a strong fiscal steward as we face a significant budget shortfall,” City Council speaker Julie Menin said. “We cannot in good conscience fund the City’s needs on the backs of homeowners or renters, by digging into emergency reserves, or by cutting essential programs. Our response offers a clear alternative to taking those steps, puts the City back on stable footing and invests directly in New Yorkers.”
Programs and services that the City Council aims to use the budget for include:
$30 million for cultural institutions to provide necessary organizational support to the cultural community
$30.7 million to support the three library systems’ operations
$16.9 million for housing and domestic violence-related legal services
$5 million to provide for students’ mental health needs
$7.8 million for CUNY Reconnect, a program providing services and resources to working-age adults who are pursuing their advanced degrees at CUNY
The Council aimed its focus on three initial priorities for negotiations over the coming months, including the expansion of the college savings program NYC Kids RISE, to significantly grow the allotment of investment funds available for 5-year-olds. The additional funding would allow an initial investment of up to $1,000 for every public-school kindergartener and up to $3,000 for children with the greatest need.
The second priority is to expand the Fair Fares program to make subways and buses fully free for households under at least 150% of the federal poverty line, so that the lowest-income New Yorkers can count on accessing public transportation without economic strain.
The program currently provides half-price fairs for these households. The Council is also looking at ways to increase Fair Fares enrollment, including through automatic enrollment.
The third priority is achieving increased wages for paraprofessionals, an issue that multiple councilmembers have supported.