New York City officials announced a tentative $115.9 billion budget deal Friday that restores funding for early childhood education programs after Mayor Eric Adams once again backed down from threatened cuts to these services. The agreement, which requires a final City Council vote, allocates $220 million for a child care voucher program serving low-income families and includes new investments in preschool programs for children with disabilities.
The budget deal represents the latest chapter in recurring battles between Adams and the City Council over early childhood funding, with the mayor typically threatening cuts before ultimately reversing course.
City officials are providing $220 million for child care vouchers targeting children from low-income backgrounds, continuing a pattern where Adams proposes reductions to account for empty seats in some neighborhoods despite high demand elsewhere1. The agreement also boosts funding for preschoolers with disabilities and infants and toddlers in high-need areas1.
"Fights over early childhood funding have pitted Mayor Eric Adams against the City Council for the past few years, usually with Adams threatening to cut programs," according to Chalkbeat New York1. The mayor has consistently backtracked on these threats, and this year proved no exception1.
The tentative budget would take effect July 1, pending final Council approval1.
This latest budget follows Adams' April commitment of $167 million for early childhood education, which restored $112 million for 3-K programming and $55 million for preschool special education seats1. At that time, Adams promised to make such funding permanent, calling it "a Herculean task that we are able to accomplish"1.
The current agreement builds on previous budget victories secured by advocates and Council members. Last year's $112.4 billion FY 2025 budget restored $58 million to the city's three public library systems, allowing them to resume seven-day operations including Sundays23. That budget also included $53 million for cultural institutions4.
Despite the restorations, advocates argue more investment is needed. Funding for child care and early childhood education reached $3.2 billion in FY 2024, but future projections show potential declines1. The city's 3-K and Pre-K programs have experienced dramatic funding swings over recent years, with budgeted amounts fluctuating substantially across financial plans2.
"As child care costs soar, the mayor should be focused on ensuring every family can access free 3-K; instead, the mayor continues to underinvest in this lifeline for working families," New Yorkers United for Child Care said regarding previous budget negotiations3.
