SFY 2026 Enacted Budget County Impact Report

After more than a month of post-deadline negotiations, the Governor and State Legislature have finalized the State Budget for Fiscal Year 2026. With the budget bills now printed, the NYSAC team has prepared an interim State Budget County Impact Report.
 
The enacted budget allocates just over $260 billion to fund a range of programs, including several state aid revenue streams that directly impact counties. Notable county-related provisions include:

• $50 million for the second year of the County Partnerships Program
• $45 million to address the unmet needs of older adults
• Increased support for local agricultural assistance
• Tuition-free community college for specific job tracks with no county match required
• Additional aid for county boards of elections
• Enhanced resources for the Environmental Protection Fund
• Clean water infrastructure investments and $50 million in new funding for the Consolidated Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS)

Bottom line: This year’s budget can best be summarized as “doing no additional harm.” The Medicaid Cap remains intact, and no new mandates are being imposed on counties