What will be in today’s NSW budget? Here's what we know so far

Drivers in New South Wales will soon benefit from a $50 weekly cap on toll road charges in Sydney, a key measure in Labor's final budget before the state election in March. This initiative will lower the existing $60 cap until July 2027, making an additional 200,000 drivers eligible for the cost-of-living relief.

Treasurer Daniel Mookhey is set to unveil the budget, which faces economic headwinds. With the economy slowing and projected drops in stamp duty and land tax revenue, Mookhey has tempered expectations for a return to surplus by 2027-28. Despite these challenges, the budget prioritizes significant investments in public services.

The health system is slated to receive a record funding injection, with $10.3 billion allocated over the next four years for staffing costs, including the hiring of 9,000 additional health workers. In the upcoming financial year alone, $3.6 billion will be dedicated to building and upgrading hospitals, with a further $400 million for a statewide "hospital maintenance blitz."

Education also sees substantial investment, with $9.2 billion designated for constructing and upgrading schools over the next four years. Several new primary and high schools are planned, particularly in Sydney's growing western suburbs. Additionally, the budget includes funding for a modular housing factory and aims to modernize the state's building approvals system using AI pilot programs.

Improvements to Sydney's rail network are also a focus, with an extra $200 million allocated for maintenance compared to the previous year. The Rail Operations Centre will receive $150 million to enhance its incident response capabilities. These infrastructure investments aim to improve commuter reliability following recent disruptions.