Assembly Announces SFY 2026-27 Budget Provides an Additional $135 Million for Distressed Cities Across New York State

Assembly Announces SFY 2026-27 Budget Provides an Additional $135 Million for Distressed Cities Across New York State

Speaker Carl Heastie and Cities Committee Chair Patrick Burke today announced that the State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2026-27 Enacted Budget includes $135 million in vital aid for distressed cities across New York State that are struggling with budget deficits.

"So many of our cities are struggling with budget deficits as they work to meet vast and diverse needs of their communities," Speaker Heastie said. "The Assembly Majority is committed to being true partners in governments and making sure they don't have to go it alone. This investment will help our cities, our communities and our people."

"Upstate and Western New York cities - already facing crumbling infrastructure and budget shortfalls that were decimating public services - were heading toward a fiscal cliff.Over the last year, I worked with mayors, legislators and local leaders across Upstate New York to build the case that cities deserve a stronger partnership with the state," said Assemblymember Burke, the first chairman of the Cities Committee from outside New York City. "The collective leadership of our group and the vision and commitment of Speaker Heastie is leading to historic investments in Buffalo and cities across our state."

The spending plan includes an additional $135 million in funding above the executive's budget proposal to help municipalities across the state balance their budgets and erase structural deficits across the SFY 2026-27 and 2027-28 budgets, including:

• $40 million for Yonkers;
• $25 million for Buffalo;
• $20 million for Albany;
• $20 million for Rochester;
• $20 million for Syracuse; and
• $10 million for Mount Vernon.

This funding is in addition to $150 million in Temporary Municipal Assistance. The executive's budget also included $30 million for Buffalo, $20 million for Albany and an increase of $100 million in Temporary Municipal Assistance.