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Mental Health Update

Posted in:
February 6, 2026
Mental Health Update

Spectrum: Mental health advocates push for additional 1% increase in FY27 budget


We are continuing the advocacy battle on the 2.7% TII (formerly the COLA).

Attached below is my interview with Susan Arbetter on Capitol Tonight urging support for the funding as well as highlighting the Governor’s initiative on Teen Mental Health First Aid and on funding for First Responders.

FYI – check out interview via link at end of article.

Mental health advocates push for additional 1% increase in FY27 budget

BY SUSAN ARBETTER NEW YORK STATE
PUBLISHED 7:30 PM ET FEB. 05, 2026

Mental health advocates push for additional 1% increase in FY27 bud

The agencies that deal with mental health and substance use disorders are facing rising costs. They are also reporting a statewide job vacancy rate of between 20%-30% with a turnover rate of 35%.

To help make these jobs more competitive, advocates are asking the Legislature for a 2.7% increase in the money these services receive in the state budget — that’s a 1% increase over the money Gov. Kathy Hochul included in her executive budget.

“There have been all these innovative programs that have been created, and they’re great, but the reality is, there’s not enough money to hire people to run these programs,” Glenn Liebman, the CEO of the Mental Health Association of New York, told Capital Tonight.

Earlier this week, 11 statewide agencies rallied at the state Capitol for more funding, saying the fundamentals of the mental health and substance use disorder system are broken.

The 1% increase is equal to about $100 million.

spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/central-ny/politics/2026/02/05/mental-health-advocates-push-for-additional-1–increase-in-fy27-budget