5 Biggest Budget Shifts in 2026
Where the money moved — and what it tells us about city priorities
Across the 40 departments tracked in our comparison, total budgets grew by 5.5%, from $493.4M to $520.4M. 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): +$11.4M (+80.1%)
Bureau of Administration (Public Works) saw a $11.4M increase (80.1%) year-over-year, moving from $14.3M to $25.7M.
2. Bureau of Emergency Medical Services: +$11.3M (+41%)
Bureau of Emergency Medical Services saw a $11.3M increase (41%) year-over-year, moving from $27.7M to $39.0M.
3. Bureau of Fire: +$7.8M (+7.9%)
Bureau of Fire saw a $7.8M increase (7.9%) year-over-year, moving from $99.0M to $106.8M.
The Biggest Decreases
4. Department of Human Resources and Civil Service: -$6.7M (-21.7%)
Department of Human Resources and Civil Service saw the largest dollar decrease, dropping $6.7M (-21.7%) from $30.8M to $24.1M.
5. Bureau of Police: -$2.7M (-2.2%)
Bureau of Police saw the second-largest dollar decrease, dropping $2.7M (-2.2%) from $120.6M to $118.0M.
The staffing picture: Across the city, 76 positions are being created and 74 eliminated — a net change of +21 FTE. See the full breakdown on the What Changed page.