CUNY urges council to use PEG restorations to rebuild faculty, campus repairs and student services

Felix Matos Rodriguez, chancellor of the City University of New York, told the New York City Council on May 1 that the executive FY26 plan proposes $1.48 billion for CUNY and baselines a major portion of prior PEG cuts while adding one‑time operating support and capital dollars.

The move “baselining the full PEG restoration” gives CUNY “an opportunity to thoughtfully develop a long term plan to rebuild what was lost,” Matos Rodriguez said. He asked the council to back additional priorities, including expanded CUNY Reconnect outreach, application fee waivers, food insecurity aid, mental health services and a metro‑card pilot.

Why it matters: CUNY is the largest public higher‑education system in the city and a primary pathway to upward mobility. Administrators and union representatives told the council the PEG cuts and subsequent vacancies have reduced capacity for advising, financial aid counseling and classroom instruction and have left major deferred maintenance needs across campuses.

Key budget details and program impacts

- System budget: The mayor’s executive plan proposes $1.48 billion for CUNY in FY26, the chancellor said. The FY26 executive amount represents an increase from earlier FY25 allocations, largely tied to PEG restorations and collective bargaining funding.

- PEG restorations: Council members…