5 Biggest Budget Shifts in 2026
Where the money moved — and what it tells us about city priorities
Across the 27 departments tracked in our comparison, total budgets grew by 8.4%, from $665.6M to $721.5M. But the headline number masks significant shifts underneath — some departments saw double-digit increases while others were cut. Here are the five biggest moves.
The Biggest Increases
1. Bureau of Administration (Public Works): +$11.8M (+82.5%)
Bureau of Administration (Public Works) saw a $11.8M increase (82.5%) year-over-year, moving from $14.3M to $26.0M.
2. Bureau of Emergency Medical Services: +$9.7M (+35.1%)
Bureau of Emergency Medical Services saw a $9.7M increase (35.1%) year-over-year, moving from $27.7M to $37.4M.
3. Bureau of Fire: +$9.1M (+9.2%)
Bureau of Fire saw a $9.1M increase (9.2%) year-over-year, moving from $99.0M to $108.1M.
The Biggest Decreases
4. Office of the Mayor: -$1.4M (-28.5%)
Office of the Mayor saw the largest dollar decrease, dropping $1.4M (-28.5%) from $5.0M to $3.5M.
5. Department of Parks and Recreation: -$1.4M (-15.5%)
Department of Parks and Recreation saw the second-largest dollar decrease, dropping $1.4M (-15.5%) from $8.9M to $7.5M.
The staffing picture: Across the city, 83 positions are being created and 82 eliminated — a net change of +26 FTE. See the full breakdown on the What Changed page.