Broome County Legislature Passes 2026 Budget

Featuring Seventh Straight Property Tax Rate Cut, New Youth Bureau, and Record Mental Health Investment

(BROOME COUNTY, NY) - The Broome County Legislature has passed the 2026 Broome County Budget, continuing the county's strong track records of fiscal responsibility, affordability, and community investment. The budget delivers a property tax rate cut for the seventh consecutive year, reaffirming Broome County's commitment to keeping life affordable for working families, seniors, and local businesses, while making targeted investments in critical services that strengthen the community.

The 2026 budget balances affordability with progress, ensuring residents keep more of what they earn while the county invests in programs that improve quality of life across every corner of Broome County.

Highlights of the 2026 Broome County Budget include:

• Seventh consecutive property tax rate cut: Delivering meaningful tax relief for residents and businesses, part of Broome County's ongoing effort to make living and working here more affordable.
• Creation of the Broome County Youth Bureau: A new department dedicated to supporting childcare, youth development, after-school programs, and family engagement across the county.
• $500,000 for the Small Community Fund: Providing direct funding to towns and villages for local infrastructure and quality-of-life projects.
• Major expansion of the Mobile Crisis Program: One of the largest investments in mental health in county history, expanding mental health crisis response services and ensuring help is available when residents need it most.

"This budget shows that we can make Broome County more affordable while continuing to invest in the people and programs that make our community stronger," said Broome County Executive Jason Garnar. "For seven straight years, we've lowered the property tax rate, and at the same time, we're investing resources into mental health, public safety and infrastructure. That's what responsible, people-first budgeting looks like."

Garnar added, "I want to thank Legislature Chairman Dan Reynolds, Finance Committee Chair Steve Flagg, and all of our Legislators who came together to pass a budget that focuses on both affordability and investment, helping families today while building for tomorrow."

The 2026 budget reflects Broome County's continued focus on keeping costs down for taxpayers while making strategic, high-impact investments in core priorities like youth programs, public safety, and mental health care.