Jenkins Signs 2026 Budget in Face of Historic Fiscal Pressure from Federal Government
Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins officially signed the 2026 Westchester County Budget. The $2.5 billion dollar, tax cap compliant, budget cuts almost all County Department budgets by 8%, including the County Executive’s budget, and eliminates 180 positions, essentially cutting the County workforce by almost 5%.
Jenkins said: “Let me be clear: this budget was not shaped by ideology or politics, but by reality. In uncertain times, our responsibility is to lead, and this budget does exactly that. The $2.5 billion dollar budget was shaped by one of the most challenging financial climates we have faced in years. The difficulties of 2025 will carry into 2026 and likely beyond, and this budget reflects the hard, necessary choices before us. This budget is a direct response to Trump turmoil coming out of Washington.”
Deputy County Executive Richard Wishnie said: “Westchester County has approached this budget with clear eyes and a commitment to protecting our residents. The fiscal instability created in Washington has forced counties across the nation to make extraordinarily difficult decisions, and Westchester is no exception. Yet even in the face of historic pressures, we crafted a responsible, disciplined spending plan that preserves essential services, avoids layoffs, and keeps faith with the people who rely on us every day.”
Director of Operations Joan McDonald said: “As County Executive Jenkins has stated, 2026 will be a challenging year on multiple fronts for Westchester County government. To insure that we did not go into the County reserve fund and to insure that we are property tax compliant, we instituted an average 8% reduction in operating costs across all County departments; instituted a hard hiring freeze and eliminated 180 positions from the County workforce. We are able to do this without compromising Westchester County delivery of services.”
Deputy Director of Operations Emily Saltzman said: “The 2026 Westchester County budget balances fiscal responsibility with the preservation of vital programs and services for our children, families and seniors.”
Budget Director Larry Soule said: “This budget reflects a disciplined, data-driven approach to governing in an extraordinarily volatile fiscal environment. With federal actions driving up costs and constraining revenues, we scrutinized every line of the budget, made across-the-board reductions, and instituted a hiring freeze to ensure long-term stability. The result is a fiscally responsible, tax-cap-compliant plan without compromising the programs residents rely on.”
Westchester County Board of Legislators Chairman Vedat Gashi said: “This balanced budget would not be possible without the input of residents from every corner of the County and the partnership of County Executive Jenkins. We are operating in a moment of unprecedented instability created by the Trump Administration. The Board has done everything possible to protect essential services, provide for our most vulnerable neighbors, and keep Westchester on stable financial footing. I am deeply thankful to everyone who made their voices heard throughout this budget process.”
Legislator and Chair of the Board’s Budget and Appropriations Committee