May 19, 2025

🍎 citymeetings.nyc #37

Last Week's Executive Budget Hearings: DSS, DSNY, HPD, DOT, CUNY, Parks & Rec, DFTA, NYCHA, and CFB

Hi!

Today's issue highlights all 9 agencies' executive budget hearings from last week in decreasing order of the size of their expense budgets.

I'm trying something slightly new for executive budget season.

Each agency will have three sections: an expense budget summary, a capital budget summary, and non-budgetary highlights.

The budget summaries contain high-level numbers, changes from the preliminary budget, and any federal impacts/PEGs/budget priorities that were discussed at the hearing.

They do not cover the budget documents themselves.

Non-budgetary highlights are the usual citymeetings.nyc fare: bullet points citing statements from the meeting with links to the moments they were made.

The budget summaries are new. If you find them helpful or interesting, please reply to this issue and let me know if I should do it again next week.

For those new to the city budget, I've also provided a short primer in this issue with ~80% of what you need to know to follow these hearings.

If you want to read this issue in a browser or share a link with folks, you can read it here.

Cheers,
Vikram

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This week I'm highlighting executive budget hearings for every agency that had one last week in decreasing order of the size of their expense budgets.

The total Executive Budget is ~$115B.

• Department of Social Services (DSS) ($15.2B)
• Department of Sanitation (DSNY) ($1.97B)
• Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) ($1.6B)
• Department of Transportation (DOT) ($1.5B)
• City University of New York (CUNY) ($1.48B)
• Department of Parks and Recreation ($667.3M)
• Department for the Aging (DFTA) ($554.4M)
• New York Housing Authority (NYCHA) ($378M)
• Campaign Finance Board (CFB) ($109.5M)

For a complete listing of published meetings, visit https://citymeetings.nyc.

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Can you help me understand the budget?

If you are new to the city budget, here is 80% of what you need to know:

• The city has two budgets: the expense budget and the capital budget.
• The expense budget covers day-to-day operating costs, like people's salaries and contracted services. The money for it comes mostly from taxes.
• The capital budget covers construction and buying land, buildings, and equipment. The money for it comes mostly from municipal bonds (debt).
• That enormous >$100B number you hear about every year is the expense budget.
• The annual capital budget is smaller. This current fiscal year (FY2025) it is ~$15B.

Here's the basic process each year:

1. The Mayor releases a Preliminary Budget in January.
2. The Council reviews it, holds hearings, and responds to it.
3. The Mayor releases the Executive Budget in response.
4. --We are here-- The Council reviews the Executive Budget and holds a bunch of hearings.
5. Some renegotiation happens and the Council adopts the new budget by July 1st.

Two terms that'll help you skim the below:

• PEG (Program to Eliminate the Gap) generally means "budget cut". The gap being eliminated is the one between expenses and revenue (by cutting expenses somewhere).
• "Baselining" something in the budget means that its funding is built into the starting point of the budget each year: a planned expense that folks assume will continue at its current level.

Everything I shared here is enough for readers to parse and understand the rest of this newsletter issue.

If you want to learn more, The Independent Budget Office has these helpful "Budget Basics" documents.

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Department of Social Services (DSS)

Expense Budget Highlights

Proposed budget (HRA & DHS): $15.2B (13.2% of the budget). Link

• Human Resources Administration (HRA): $11.74B (10.2% of the budget). Link
• Department of Homeless Services (DHS): $3.4B (3% of the budget). Link

Change from preliminary budget:

• HRA: +$271.1M (+2.4%) from the preliminary plan. Link
• DHS: -$130.9M (-3.7%) from the preliminary plan. Link

Newly-baselined items mentioned:

• Prevailing wage for shelter security. Link
• Human service provider COLAs (Cost of Living Adjustments). Link

Significant PEGs or restorations of PEGs:

• No significant PEG actions were directly discussed.

Federal impacts discussed:

• Commissioner Park warned that proposed federal cuts to SNAP and Medicaid would be "catastrophic" for New Yorkers and the city's economy, threatening vital services for millions. Link
• Specific congressional proposals aim to cut $300B from SNAP over ten years and $715B from Medicaid. Link
• The White House's "skinny budget" separately proposes $28B in cuts to housing/community development programs (affecting public housing and Section 8) and suggests eliminating the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and LIHEAP. Link

Council priorities & executive budget responses mentioned:

• The Council acknowledged positive additions in the FY26 executive budget, including funding for HASA housing, Community Food Connection, Fair Fares, provider COLAs, and baselined prevailing wage for shelter security. Link
• However, the Council expressed disappointment that the executive plan lacked funding for several key priorities. Link
• Unfunded Council priorities include increasing baseline cash assistance and aligning CityFHEPS/non-asylum shelter budgets with actual spending. Link
• Other unfunded priorities are expanding Fair Fares eligibility to 200% FPL, expanding/baselining Community Food Connection, increasing staffing for client services, and adequately funding Right to Counsel. Link

Capital Budget Highlights

• No capital budget figures were directly discussed.

Non-Budgetary Meeting Highlights

• Commissioner Park explained proposed CityFHEPS changes, including a household contribution increase from 30% to 40% after five years (for some households), to manage program costs. Link
• CM Ayala strongly opposed the CityFHEPS rent increase, arguing its $11M projected savings are not worth the hardship to low-income families. Link
• CM Brannan pressed DHS on delays in implementing prevailing wage and ensuring back pay for shelter security officers under Local Law 125. Link
• DHS is expanding low-barrier bed capacity to 4,900 beds to address street homelessness and has connected over 8,500 individuals to shelter via its subway safety plan. Link
• DSS helped over 15,500 clients secure employment in 2024 (an 89% increase). Link
• Safety Net Activists opposed a proposed DHS shelter sanctions policy, fearing it would evict residents due to issues like lack of Wi-Fi for housing searches. Link
• Food security advocates urged the city to increase and baseline Community Food Connection funding to $100M due to rising demand and federal cuts. Link
• Testimony highlighted that many nonprofit homeless service providers are still owed significant overdue city payments, some dating back to FY19. Link
• An Army veteran working as a shelter security officer urged the Council to ensure back pay owed under the prevailing wage law is delivered. Link

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Department of Sanitation (DSNY)

Expense Budget Highlights

Proposed budget: $1.97B, (~1.7% of the total city budget). Link

Change from preliminary budget: +$70M. Link

Newly-baselined items mentioned:

• Litter basket pickups: $29.7M, growing to $31M in FY28. Link
• Park perimeter cleaning: $1.4M (now permanent). Link
• DSNY lot cleaning unit: $820K for FY26, growing to $1.6M in FY29. Link
• Targeted Neighborhood Task Force: $3.6M, growing to $6.3M annually in FY29. Link
• Precision Cleaning Initiative: $1.1M permanent funding. Link

Federal impacts discussed:

• Federal funding for FY26 is anticipated to be less than 1% of DSNY's budget, down from ~10% in FY25 (which was primarily one-time American Rescue Plan funds). Link

Council priorities & executive budget responses Mentioned:

• Council asked for $7.7M for vendor enforcement; executive budget response not detailed in opening remarks. Link
• Council asked for $10.7M for waste bin program; executive budget response not detailed in opening remarks. Link
• Council called for baseline funding to clean up neglected lots; executive budget includes $820K for FY26 (growing to $1.6M by FY29) for the DSNY lot cleaning unit. Link

Capital Budget Highlights

Proposed capital plan: $1.6B for FY2025-2029, with a ten-year plan totaling $3.54B. Link

Projects/infrastructure supported:

• $1.16B for garages and facilities. Link
• $2.25B for equipment. Link
• New garage for Bronx Districts 9, 10, and 11: $488M. Link
• New garage for Queens District 1: $284M. Link
• Council requested $10M in capital for more illegal dumping cameras. Link

Non-Budgetary Meeting Highlights

• DSNY implemented new trash set-out times (8 PM from 4 PM) and containerization rules for businesses and 1-9 unit residential buildings, with over 800,000 "NYC bins" sold. Link
• The Empire Bins pilot program for on-street containerization is launching in West Harlem on June 1, set to cover over 80% of apartment units with more than 1,000 bins. Link
• DSNY reported that its now citywide composting program led to a record 18 million pounds of residential compostables diverted in April 2025, a 400% increase year-over-year, with collection increasing from a 1% to 5% capture rate. Link
• The Commercial Waste Zones (CWZ) program launched its first zone in Queens and plans to cover The Bronx next, aiming for full citywide implementation by the end of 2027. Link
• DSNY became the lead agency for street vending enforcement in April 2023 and has since issued around 4,000 vending-related summonses as of early 2024. Link
• CM Ayala strongly questioned the equity of DSNY funding across districts, highlighting persistent filth in her district despite DSNY's claims of equitable resource distribution based on need. Link
• CM Carr emphasized the need for an increased sanitation police headcount, currently 159 citywide, to effectively combat illegal dumping. Link
• CM Stevens voiced significant concerns about the scarcity of garbage cans, ineffective street cleaning enforcement, and persistent illegal dumping in her West Bronx district. Link

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Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD)

Expense Budget Highlights

Proposed budget: $1.6 billion (~1.4% of the total executive budget). Link

Change from preliminary budget: -$90 million. Link

Newly-baselined items mentioned:

• Supportive Housing: nearly $50M across three years for the transition of 5,800 units from scattered to congregate. Link
• Cost of living increases for human services workers. Link

Significant PEGs or restorations of PEGs:

• HPD officials stated the reduction from the preliminary budget was primarily due to a reforecast of the asylum seeker budget, not cuts to core agency operations, which reportedly saw additions. Link

Federal impacts discussed:

• 69% of HPD's expense budget is federally funded, mainly via Section 8 rental assistance and Community Development Block Grants (CDBG). Link
• HPD expressed cautious optimism regarding bipartisan support for key federal housing programs despite potential federal budget uncertainties. Link

Council priorities & executive budget responses mentioned:

• Council requested $2.2M in expense funding to enhance HPD's litigation team; this was not included in the executive budget. Link
• Council called on the administration to fill nearly 400 vacancies at HPD, especially in roles that finance, build, and preserve affordable housing. Link

Capital Budget Highlights

Proposed capital plan: HPD's capital budget is primarily city-funded, with the agency receiving approximately 14% of the overall city capital budget. Link

Projects/infrastructure supported:

• Homeownership Initiatives: $222M budgeted for City Fiscal Year 2026; over $1.7B allocated in the 10-year plan. Link
• Council requested $600M in capital funds for a reformed Third Party Transfer (TPT) program; this was not included in the executive budget. Link

Non-Budgetary Meeting Highlights

• CM Pierina Sanchez highlighted that it can take up to a year to assign a project manager for a preservation deal, with nearly 14% of HPD positions vacant. Link
• HPD officials stated that the vacancy rate for project managers in the Office of Development is 27% (82 staff out of 113 budgeted positions). Link
• Acting Commissioner Tigani confirmed that it can still take up to a year for a project manager to be assigned to some preservation programs. Link
• CM Justin Brannan expressed concern that it seems easier and significantly faster for developers to build homeless shelters than affordable housing. Link
• Data from the Housing Vacancy Survey indicates that 66% of renter households comprise one or two people, while only 48% of rental units are studios or one-bedrooms. Link
• HPD is launching a pilot program to assess the cost and impact of creating more two- and three-bedroom apartments. Link
• Public Advocate Jumaane Williams noted HPD's overall vacancy rate increased to 15.9% (449 vacancies) in March 2025 from 13.8% in February 2025. Link
• Brooklyn Legal Services Corporation A testified that Right to Counsel representation rates declined from 71% in FY21 to 42% in FY24, while active eviction cases rose 440% between 2020 and 2024. Link
• The Coalition for the Homeless reported that from 2014 to 2024, only 20% of newly built affordable rental units were for extremely low-income families. Link

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Department of Transportation (DOT)

Expense Budget Highlights

Proposed budget: $1.5 billion (~1.3% of the total city budget). Link

Change from preliminary budget: +$30 million increase. Link

Newly-baselined items mentioned:

• $3.2 million and 10 headcount for inspection and repair of overhead sign structures. Link
• $3.7M in FY26 to continue the MWBE contract for cleaning and vegetation control along highway service roads. Link

Significant PEGs or restorations of PEGs:

• No significant PEG actions directly discussed.

Federal impacts discussed:

• City funds will replace expiring federal stimulus for the Open Streets ($2.1M) and Dining Out NYC ($3.8M) programs. Link
• DOT receives most federal funding from USDOT, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA); no federal funds have been rescinded yet despite concerns about potential cuts. Link

Council priorities & executive budget responses mentioned:

• Council highlighted 630 vacancies at DOT and stressed the need to fill these positions. Link
• CM Brooks-Powers plans to discuss equitable investment in underserved communities and DOT's compliance with legal mandates, particularly for bus lanes mandated by the Streets Plan. Link

Capital Budget Highlights

Proposed capital plan: $33.9 billion over 10 years (FY2025-2035). Link

• The FY2025-2029 capital commitment plan totals $11.66 billion, a $1.67 billion decrease from the preliminary plan. Link

Projects/infrastructure supported (from 10-year plan):

• $17.3 billion for bridge maintenance and investment. Link
• $3.5 billion for resurfacing. Link
• $3.6 billion for sidewalks. Link
• $253 million allocation over the 10-year plan for fleet replacement. Link
• $79.6M for phase four of the Queens Boulevard redesign. Link
• $50 million for the Gotham Arches project. Link
• $208 million for new projects to support the Bronx Metro North rezoning. Link
• Council requested $40M in additional capital funding to return to resurfacing 1,300 lane miles annually; executive budget included $7.9M for resurfacing operations. Link

Non-Budgetary Meeting Highlights

• DOT is expanding its "Weigh in Motion" program to the BQE and eight additional bridges to deter overweight trucks and protect infrastructure. Link
• The city has built 8.8 miles of new protected bike lanes under the current administration and plans to upgrade 20 more miles. Link
• DOT has selected a vendor for a new automatic enforcement contract and is working to reauthorize its speed camera program. Link
• CM Selvena Brooks-Powers criticized DOT for failing to meet the Streets Plan mandates for 2024, particularly for protected bus lanes and transit signal priority installations. Link
• Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez stated that community opposition is a major challenge in implementing the mandated 50 miles of protected bike lanes and 30 miles of protected bus lanes. Link
• DOT is seeking amendments to increase data sharing with the state to combat obstructed license plates and supports an Intelligent Speed Assist (ISA) program requiring GPS technology in vehicles of worst offenders. Link
• CM Stevens raised concerns about the poor maintenance, lack of cleanliness, and inadequate lighting of step streets in her district. Link
• CM Brooks-Powers pointed to a problematic bike lane installation on Beach Twentieth Street in Rockaway as an example of a disconnect between DOT's implementation and community needs. Link

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City University of New York (CUNY)

Expense Budget Highlights

Proposed budget: $1.48B (1.3% of the city's total proposed FY2026 budget). Link

Change from preliminary budget: +$199.5M or +15.5% from the FY2026 preliminary plan. Link

Newly-baselined items mentioned:

• City College CUNY STEM Institute: $1M. Link

Significant PEGs or restorations of PEGs:

• Full restoration of $95.5M in PEGs for FY2026 is now baselined. Link
• Executive budget includes one-time restoration funding for CUNY ACE ($9.1M) and ASAP ($5.5M). Link

Federal impacts discussed:

• Chancellor Rodrìguez highlighted stress and anxiety in the CUNY community and potential funding losses due to evolving federal policies threatening research and scholarship. Link
• CUNY has received 78 stop work orders on federal research grants, with $17M in anticipated funding at risk. Link
• Concerns were raised about a federal budget reconciliation bill provision that would change Pell Grant eligibility from 12 to 15 credits. Link
• 25 student visas were revoked by DHS but later reinstated; three students opted to complete degrees online from their home countries. Link
• $112.4M in federal funding for CUNY sunset in FY2024. Link

Council priorities & executive budget responses mentioned:

• Council called for $174.8M in CUNY's operating budget for various programs; executive budget restored funding for programs like CUNY ACE, ASAP, and STEM institutes, but many others like CUNY Reconnect remain unfunded. Link
• CUNY requested inclusion of funding for application fee waivers, CUNY Reconnect expansion, food insecurity support, mental health services, anti-discrimination programming, Citizenship Now, disability services, a MetroCard pilot, and CUNY Beyond in the adopted budget. Link

Capital Budget Highlights

Proposed capital plan: The executive budget capital plan includes $1.57B in city funding and $4.3M in non-city grants over ten years. Link

• Top priorities for additional capital funding, if secured, include $150M for the Hostos Allied Health and Natural Science building and $200M for state of good repair projects. Link

Projects/infrastructure supported:

• CUNY's capital commitment plan for FY25-29 totals $1.1B, an increase of $400M from the January plan, primarily focused on state of good repair. Link
• The executive capital commitment plan includes $6.5M (up from $4.5M in the preliminary) for the Hostos Allied Health and Sciences Building for demolition and site prep. Link

Non-Budgetary Meeting Highlights

• Chancellor Rodrìguez announced the CUNY Reconnect program has enrolled over 40,000 students. Link
• CUNY's student body expanded by nearly 12,000 students over two years (5% growth). Link
• The federal government's termination of CUNY research grants has affected 98 employees, with a biology professor from Queens College detailing the impact on his wastewater COVID surveillance and student training programs. Link
• CM Williams raised concerns about the $30M allocated for York College's groundwater flooding, questioning long-term solutions for the building's foundation. Link
• CUNY plans to have a new discrimination reporting portal operational by the fall semester and will make Title VI training mandatory for all full-time faculty and staff. Link
• The Professional Staff Congress (PSC CUNY) advocated for restoring nearly 500 full-time faculty lines lost during the pandemic. Link
• Students and advocates testified on the critical need for transit assistance, citing that 64% of students worry about affording transit and 71% have missed or been late to class due to fare costs. Link
• An advocate from New York Lawyers for the Public Interest highlighted systemic barriers and discrimination faced by CUNY students with disabilities. Link

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Department of Parks and Recreation

Expense Budget Highlights

Proposed budget: $667.3 million (under 0.5% of the total executive budget). Link

Change from preliminary budget:

• +$50.6 million (CM Brannan) Link
• +$26.8 million (CM Krishnan) Link
• Not sure why different figures were cited. --Vikram

Newly-baselined items mentioned:

• Funding for the Office of Marine Debris Disposal and Vessel Surrendering. Link
• Funding for additional staff mechanics and service technicians for fleet maintenance. Link

Significant PEGs or restorations of PEGs:

• The executive budget includes $18.7M in new needs, largely for temporary 'one-shot' positions, but the department still faces a net loss of 700-800 positions from previous cuts. (Link 1) (Link 2)

Federal impacts discussed:

• The agency received $690K in federal funds for green infrastructure stormwater management but is not reliant on federal money for these efforts. Link

Council priorities & executive budget responses mentioned:

• The Council pushed for $32.5 million to restore critical positions like gardeners, pruners, and park enforcement officers. Link
• CM Krishnan noted the current budget is far from the Mayor's $1 billion (1% of city budget) campaign promise for Parks. Link
• The executive budget includes temporary "one-shot" funding for Urban Park Rangers, Green Thumb, and tree stump removal, which the Council advocates be made permanent. Link

Capital Budget Highlights

Proposed capital plan: $10.4 billion over 10 years, with over $250 million in new investment added. Link

Projects/infrastructure supported:

• Over $103 million for the full reconstruction of the Prospect Park garage compound. Link
• $51 million to reconstruct the Tony Dapolito Outdoor Pool in Manhattan. Link
• Seven new playground renovations in The Bronx as part of the Metro North Station area plan. Link
• $7.6M in the FY25-29 capital budget for various projects on Hart Island, including slope stabilization and chapel preservation. Link

Non-Budgetary Meeting Highlights

• Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue announced she will be stepping down at the end of the month after three and a half years. Link
• The Parks Department is preparing for the beach season (opening May 24) and, despite recruitment challenges, expects to open all public pools and beaches this summer. Link
• New agency rules increase penalties for illegal dumping in parks. Second-shift evening/weekend maintenance workers have been deployed to 100 new busy park locations. Link
• CM Menin questioned significant delays in capital projects like Ruppert Park, highlighting inter-agency coordination challenges, particularly with DEP requirements. Link
• The Parks Department outlined its neighborhood tree planting strategy, aiming for equity and efficiency by planting trees in every viable spot citywide within a nine-year cycle. Link
• Adam Ganser of New Yorkers for Parks testified that due to budget cuts, parks are facing basic service issues of safety and cleanliness, supporting the Council's call for a $65M restoration. Link
• Kaitlin Krause from Rising Tide Effect argued that chronic underfunding of the Parks Department is putting lives at risk due to inadequate water safety measures and lifeguard staffing. Link
• John Surico from the Center for an Urban Future proposed ideas for dedicated parks revenue, such as a ticket surcharge on stadiums on parkland and expanding concessions, to end the cycle of temporary funding. Link

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Department for the Aging (DFTA / NYC Aging)

Expense Budget Highlights

Proposed budget: $554.4M, (less than 0.5% of the city's total budget). Link

Change from preliminary budget: +$128.3M (approximately 30%). Link

Newly-baselined items mentioned:

• Fiscal cliff confirmed as funded, bringing FY2026 baseline budget to FY2025 levels with $75M baseline from FY27 for senior services, including 16 baselined positions at NYC Aging. Link

Significant PEGs or restorations of PEGs:

• Restoration of Older Adult Center (OAC) PEGs: $23M in FY26. It is also baselined at $37.7M in out-years. Link

Federal impacts discussed:

• Federal funds (14% of FY26 budget) primarily support case management, meal services (Home Delivered Meals & congregate), and elder abuse programs. Link
• Concerns exist about potential federal cuts to Older Americans Act funding and workforce programs (Title V). Link
• A proposed $880B federal cut over ten years threatens Medicaid programs, which would severely impact long-term care for older adults (though Medicaid is not DFTA's purview). Link

Council priorities & executive budget responses Mentioned:

• Council asked for $6.3M to reduce case management backlog; executive budget included approximately one-third of that request. Link

Capital Budget Highlights

Proposed capital plan: $85.1M for FY2025-2029 (noted as the smallest of any city agency). Link

Projects/infrastructure supported:

• $19M for Older Adult Center (OAC) renovations (approximately 15 projects). Link
• $28.4M for NYC Aging's headquarters relocation. Link
• Council requested an additional $50M in capital funding; this was not included in the executive budget. Link

Non-Budgetary Meeting Highlights

• NYC Aging served a record 10 million meals in FY24 and is on track to match this in FY25. Link
• DFTA faces challenges due to increasingly complex case management situations. The current waitlist for case management services is 491 older adults. Link
• The agency is advocating for wage parity between home care workers in the Expanded In-Home Services for the Elderly Program (EISEP) and those in Medicaid-funded programs. Link
• NYC Aging plans to release a new Request for Proposals (RFP) for Older Adult Centers at the end of 2025, aiming to address the evolving needs of the aging population. Link
• DFTA has invested an additional $3.6M in Southeast Queens to address the growing needs for older adult services in that area. Link
• CM Hudson questioned the sufficiency of NYC Aging's $85.1M five-year capital plan, given the extensive infrastructure needs of over 300 OACs and Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORCs). Link
• CM Banks raised concerns about leasing agreements for senior centers in RAD-converted NYCHA developments, which are hampering necessary capital investments. Link
• Live On New York testified that despite the fiscal cliff being filled, the current aging services system is unprepared for current or future needs, calling for $500M for OAC repairs and $44M for expanded case management. Link
• The Center for an Urban Future presented a report showing a 41% increase in older adult poverty over the last decade, urging long-term increased funding for DFTA. Link

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New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA)

Expense Budget Highlights

Proposed budget:

• $378M (< 1% of the total executive budget) Link
• ... or $617M? Unsure why these cited figures are different. Link

• NYCHA's operating budget for calendar year 2025 projects $2.3B in support for Section 8 housing assistance payments and administrative fees. Link

Change from preliminary budget:

• City contributions in the FY2026 executive plan showed minimal changes from the preliminary plan. Link

Newly-baselined items mentioned:

• None discussed.

Significant PEGs or restorations of PEGs:

• No significant PEG actions directly impacting NYCHA's own budget planning were prominently discussed.

Federal impacts discussed:

• The President's top line budget proposal indicates a potential nearly $33B cut to HUD, with $26.7B affecting public housing and housing voucher programs. Link
• Proposed federal changes include new regulations such as a two-year time limit on rental assistance for able-bodied adults and a shift from formula-based funding. Link
• A shift to state-managed block grants for housing programs is proposed, which NYCHA projects could represent a 43-45% cut to those programs. Link
• Federal operating subsidies and Section 8 subsidies constitute approximately 67% of NYCHA's operating expense budget. Link
• Federal programs ERAP (Emergency Rental Assistance Program), CRA (COVID-19 Rent Relief Program), and Home ARP (HOME-American Rescue Plan) have largely concluded, with no additional funding anticipated. Link

Council priorities & executive budget responses mentioned:

• NYCHA identified the allocation of City of Yes plan funding as a top priority in its new funding requests from the city. Link

Capital Budget Highlights

Proposed capital plan:

• The city allocated $2.1B in capital funds to NYCHA for FY2026, which includes funding for PACT and Trust programs. Link
• Federal funds make up 55% of NYCHA's five-year capital plan. Link

Projects/infrastructure supported:

• The recent state budget includes $200M for NYCHA capital projects and $25M for vacant unit turnover. Link
• NYCHA has $1.1B budgeted over its five-year capital plan for comprehensive modernization projects at St. Nicholas Houses, Todt Hill, and two sites (Gowanus and Wyckoff) funded through the Gowanus rezoning. Link

Non-Budgetary Meeting Highlights

• NYCHA CEO Lisa Bova-Hiatt stated the agency faces a nearly $80B capital need for its rapidly aging building portfolio. Link
• NYCHA is collecting an average of 85% of current monthly rent for its Section 9 portfolio; however, total rent arrears stand at $441M across 64,000 households. Link
• Of NYCHA's 35 Hurricane Sandy recovery projects, 30 are complete, with four more expected by Q3 2025; the Cary Gardens project may extend into 2026. Link
• Progress continues on the 'Clean Heat for All' program, which involves replacing steam radiators with electric heat pumps, with plans to scale up to 10,000 units. Link
• NYCHA currently has approximately 5,900 vacant units in its turnover pipeline, with about 60% of turned-over units going to existing residents transferring within NYCHA. Link
• The RAD/PACT program and future Trust conversions are projected to address about half of NYCHA's $78B capital need. Link
• Manuel Martinez, a resident leader from South Jamaica Houses, criticized NYCHA's management and alleged that vacant units are deliberately kept empty to justify conversions to private management. Link
• Edna Wells Handy of the National Institute for Section 3 Empowerment advocated for vigorous enforcement of the Section 3 federal mandate, which requires using federal funds for training, jobs, and contracts for low-income residents. Link
• The Community Service Society of New York presented survey data showing 82% of NYCHA residents reported their homes were uncomfortably hot in summer and 46% were cold in winter. Link
• A resident representing Fulton and Elliot Chelsea Tenants Against Demolition spoke against the proposed demolition of NYCHA buildings in Chelsea, urging tenants to retain their Section 9 leases. Link

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Campaign Finance Board (CFB)

Expense Budget Hummary

Proposed budget: $109.5M (less than 1% of the city's total proposed FY2026 budget). Link

Change from preliminary budget: +$98.1M from the FY2026 preliminary plan, primarily due to campaign match funding. Link

Newly-baselined items mentioned:

• No newly baselined items mentioned.

Significant PEGs or restorations of PEGs:

• No significant PEG actions mentioned.

Federal impacts discussed:

• No specific federal impacts discussed.

Council priorities & executive budget responses mentioned:

• Council priorities and administration responses not detailed.

Capital Budget Summary

• The CFB does not have a capital budget; it funds capital-eligible projects like cloud migration through its operating (expense) budget. Link

Non-Budgetary Meeting Highlights

• The CFB plans a headcount increase of 45 new positions (to 258 total), including a new Strategy, Products, and Innovation division. Link
• CFB aims to complete 50% of audits within one year of the 2025 elections and is engaging an outside consultant, Bloom Works LLC, to improve candidate experience and optimize audits. Link
• As of the hearing, 43% of 2021 election cycle audits were completed, and 20 audits from the 2023 cycle were completed, with CFB implementing stricter extension policies for future audits. Link
• CM Restler raised concerns about the Cuomo for Mayor campaign, citing undisclosed bundlers and the campaign's handling of matching funds, and questioned the CFB's real-time enforcement capabilities. Link
• The CFB implemented a new policy withholding matching funds for unreported suspected intermediaries, resulting in 587 invalid matching claims (about 3% of all invalid claims) in the 2025 cycle so far. Link
• The CFB withheld $662K in matching funds from the Cuomo campaign due to suspected improper coordination with the "Fix the City" super PAC. Link
• CFB is spending $3.2M on Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) education for the current cycle, a significant reduction from the reported $15M allocated by the Mayor's office in 2021. Link
• The CFB detailed its general consultant spending, with approximately $11M for voter education/design/translation and nearly $17M for technology services consultancies. Link

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Thanks for reading!

Comments, questions, or feedback? Reply to this email or shoot me a note at vikram@citymeetings.nyc