On Tuesday, January 16th, New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced a groundbreaking $233 billion budget for the 2025 fiscal year, with a substantial allocation of $2.4 billion to address New York City’s migrant crisis. This significant increase in funding adds $500 million to the city’s existing budget for the migrant crisis, elevating the state’s investment from the initially planned $1.9 billion.
Governor Hochul’s executive budget proposal, revealed just hours before Mayor Eric Adams was set to unveil his administration’s approximately $110 billion budget, marks a decisive step in tackling the challenges posed by the influx of asylum-seeking migrants in the city since 2022.
The augmented funding builds on the $1.9 billion already included in this year’s budget, cumulatively offering $4.3 billion for reimbursements. This move underscores the state’s commitment to supporting New York City during this unprecedented migrant crisis.
Alongside the migrant crisis funding, Governor Hochul’s budget plan includes over $40 million to combat retail theft, a recommendation to extend mayoral control of schools by four years, and no tax increases. Additionally, the budget allocates $3.8 million for flood resiliency, $10 million to fight hate crimes, and $100 million for campaign financing.
The budget director, Blake Washington, emphasized that the Executive Budget sets the state on a trajectory for continued, sound, and sustainable investments. He highlighted that the budget does not raise taxes and maintains a historic level of reserves to mitigate any future economic downturns.
With approximately $150 million from federal sources, New York City will have almost half of the projected cost of the migrant crisis covered. This financial support comes after the city has worked to reduce shelter costs to $10 billion, demonstrating a concerted effort to manage the crisis effectively.
Governor Hochul’s budget proposal represents a significant response to the ongoing challenges faced by New York City. It reflects the state’s dedication to providing necessary resources and support to manage the migrant crisis while maintaining a focus on other critical areas of public concern.
