CUNY urges City Council to back $1.5 billion operating plan and $200 million capital push to repair aging campuses

Council Member Richards Joseph convened the New York City Council Higher Education Committee to review the City University of New York’s fiscal 2027 preliminary budget, where CUNY officials sought support for operating and capital commitments they say are essential to preserve recent gains in enrollment and student success.

CUNY’s FY27 preliminary plan totals about $1.5 billion in operating funds, the university said in testimony. Executive Vice Chancellor and University Provost Alicia Alvero and Chief Operating Officer Hector Batista said the system has made progress closing its structural deficit but still faces enduring needs in capital repairs, collective-bargaining costs and student-facing programs.

“CUNY’s proposal fiscal 2027 budget total 1.5 billion,” Alvero told the committee. CUNY officials said their multi-year capital ask includes an annual $200 million target (city/state split) to fund community-college repairs and reach a higher share of systems in a “state of good repair.” The administration said the university’s capital baseline would require city and state matches to move prioritized projects forward.

Why it matters: CUNY officials said investments will affect classroom safety, accessibility and program continuity across 26 colleges and roughly 30 million square feet of campus space. CUNY reported improving the share of “vital systems” in good repair to roughly 32–33% from an earlier baseline of 23%, but stressed the remaining backlog requires new recurring capital commitments.

Key budget and financial updates
- Structural deficit: CUNY told the committee the university has reduced an estimated structural deficit from $234 million in FY22 to about $76 million projected at the end of FY26, citing enrollment gains, expense reductions and additional state aid. The reduction figure was presented by CUNY leadership during testimony.
- Enrollment: Officials said enrollment rose roughly 3.5% in the most recent year and 5.5% over two years, adding nearly 13,000 students systemwide, which CUNY said contributes incrementally to revenue growth.
- Operating priorities: CUNY asked the council to preserve funding for programs that drive retention and completion (ASAP, ACE, Reconnect), bolster disability accommodations and expand career-connected learning under the new CUNY Beyond initiative.

Operational efficiency and procurement
CUNY described a systemwide effort to centralize procurement, IT, and facility services to capture economies of scale. Officials said contracting consolidation and a centralized purchasing program (“CUNY Buy”) have generated material discounts and that shared-service hubs for facility trades are being created to address maintenance more quickly. They cited a reduction in construction-related contractors as one lever to save money and improve responsiveness.

Capital projects and major partnerships
Committee members pressed CUNY about several large projects, including an E73rd Street development tied to Brookdale/Memorial Sloan Kettering and plans to relocate Hunter College’s nursing school while construction proceeds. CUNY said the project remains on schedule and that temporary facilities will house programs while new buildings are completed.

What council members asked for
Council members requested campus-level lists of colleges with structural deficits and more granular data on vacancies and headcount by campus. CUNY committed to follow up with lists and additional fiscal detail for the committee.

What happens next
No vote or formal action was taken at the hearing; the session collected testimony and follow-up requests CUNY agreed to provide. The council’s funding recommendations will be considered as the city budget process proceeds.

Sources and attribution
Quotes and figures in this article are drawn from testimony delivered to the New York City Council Higher Education Committee, including remarks by Council Member Richards Joseph and CUNY officials Alicia Alvero and Hector Batista during the March hearing. CUNY-provided enrollment and budget figures were cited during the testimony and committee questioning.

Ending
CUNY officials emphasized that sustaining recent enrollment gains and meeting students’ basic needs will require both recurring operating support and matched capital investments. The council and CUNY staff agreed to exchange further campus-level fiscal details as the city budget deliberations continue.