Westchester County Board of Legislators Revises Proposed 2026 County Budget
The Westchester County Board of Legislators has made significant revisions to the initial FY2026 County Budget, including a reduction in the County Executive’s proposed tax increase from 5.27% to 3.7%.
The Board prioritized the restoration of County funding for maternal health, the Westchester Works childcare scholarship program, and critical community-based organizations.
A diverse array of voices at the Board’s two recent public input sessions and formal public hearing this week informed legislators’ recommendations.
Legislators will vote on the FY2026 County budget at a Special Meeting on Monday, December 8th at 10:30 AM in the Board’s Legislative Chamber, 148 Martine Avenue, 8th Floor, White Plains, New York 10601.
Board Chairman Vedat Gashi (D—New Castle, Ossining, Somers, Yorktown) said, “I’m deeply grateful to the public for helping shape this budget and to my colleagues who worked tirelessly through this process. Our shared commitment to fiscal responsibility, compassion, and effective local governance has guided us every step of the way. This budget hasn't been easy, but we’re standing up for working families, small business owners, and neighbors across Westchester.”
Legislator Jewel Williams Johnson (D—Elmsford, Greenburgh, Tarrytown, White Plains), Chair of the Board’s Budget and Appropriations Committee, said, “Our budget process is now nearing its culmination with the Board of Legislators’ Adds and Deletes Days, where my colleagues and I finalized negotiations with the County Executive and made careful changes to the proposed 2026 County budgets. This has been an especially difficult year, with deep federal cuts and decisions at the national level that have slowed the economy and led to a sharp drop in sales tax receipts—one of our primary sources of revenue. Despite these real constraints, we worked tirelessly to craft a balanced budget that protects core services and supports the programs, organizations, and communities that residents rely on every day. I am grateful to my colleagues, our staff, and our community partners for their persistence and advocacy in a challenging environment, and I remain committed to centering the needs of Westchester families as we move this budget toward final adoption.”
Majority Leader David T. Imamura (D—Ardsley, Dobbs Ferry, Edgemont, Hartsdale, Hastings-on-Hudson, Irvington) said, “I’m proud the Westchester County legislature is holding the line on taxes by cutting the County Executive’s proposed tax increase by 1.57%. In challenging times, we are working to ensure all residents can afford to live and work in Westchester.”
For more information, visit our budget dashboard HERE.