The 2026 fiscal budget was officially approved in a unanimous vote on Monday. 

“All items on today’s general order calendar are adopted in a vote of 51 in the affirmative, zero in the negative and zero abstentions," Councilmember Amanda Farías said at the hearing.

What You Need To Know

  • The 2026 fiscal budget was officially approved in a unanimous vote on Monday

  • The $116 billion budget is the largest in city history

  • The City Council had been fighting for the legal services up until the final deal amid the increased immigration enforcement and deportation efforts in the city

The procedural vote came days after the mayor and the speaker shook on the deal Friday night. 

The $116 billion budget is the largest in city history. 

It includes funding for expanded seven-day library services, mental health services, early childhood development for 2-year-olds, and immigration legal services. 

The City Council had been fighting for the legal services up until the final deal amid the increased immigration enforcement and deportation efforts in the city. 

“Though the Adams administration continues to fail to recognize the crisis of violence and mass deportation before us, this council has stepped up and demanded more,” Councilmember Alexa Avilés said. 

Council members noted that this budget was about prioritizing affordability and working-class families.  

The budget added an additional $250 million in childcare vouchers for a state program that was put on hold earlier this year pending more funding. 

“This is more than numbers in a spreadsheet. This is about giving working families, especially Black and brown families, immigrant families, the resources and support they need to thrive,” City Councilmember Rita Joseph said.

This is the first budget in which the mayor had not proposed cuts or staffing shortages.

Mayor Eric Adams is in an election year and facing a tough reelection bid. In April, the mayor had his federal corruption case dismissed amid a record low approval rating. 

Earlier in the day, Council Speaker Adrienne Adams had this to say about the budget. 

“We can build a city where the budget reflects all of our needs. Where our families can not only afford to survive but live and flourish right here," she said. “This is an electoral year, so it probably was a lot easier for him. For the council, it is always in our prioritizing what is in the best needs for New Yorkers and for that part that hasn’t changed.” 

This was the council speaker's last budget as the head of the council. 

“I say hooray and congratulations to us on passing a phenomenal budget," she said.