New York City Council Approves $125.8 Billion Budget 45-6 After $175 Million Voucher Deal
Updated
Updated · City & State New York · Jun 30
New York City Council Approves $125.8 Billion Budget 45-6 After $175 Million Voucher Deal
3 articles · Updated · City & State New York · Jun 30
Summary
A 45-6 City Council vote approved New York City’s $125.8 billion budget just hours before the July 1 deadline, closing a last-minute standoff between Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Speaker Julie Menin.
The breakthrough hinged on CityFHEPS: the deal adds $175 million for rental vouchers in fiscal 2027, baselines $125 million in future years, and ends the administration’s legal fight over the council’s 2023 expansion law.
The agreement also backs a new bill widening voucher access for some New Yorkers previously excluded and adds $54 million in baselined Fair Fares funding, lifting eligibility to 200% of the federal poverty level from 150%.
Police staffing became a flashpoint after Mamdani dropped his proposal to add 580 NYPD officers; all five Republican members and one Democrat voted no, and Menin said she opposed leaving headcount unchanged.
The budget is Mamdani’s first and drew criticism from watchdogs including the Citizens Budget Commission, which said it relies too heavily on one-shot savings and cost shifts that could widen future gaps.