The City Council of Yonkers approved a new $1.1 billion budget Thursday night that increases education funding for the sixth consecutive year, avoiding cuts and layoffs.

"It gives me an opportunity to go back to the numbers, and not only restore, but try to hire more," says Edwin Quezada, the superintendent of Yonkers School District.

The budget grants a $557 million operating budget for the Board of Education and reinstates positions in the city's police and fire departments. Democratic leaders had wanted to increase spending by even more, giving schools a $6.6 million increase, but lawmakers settled on a $400,000 figure that restored guidance counselor positions..

"The fact that City Council sees the importance of saving jobs is a wonderful thing," says Roselyn Kendrick-Jones, a guidance counselor at Yonkers Middle School whose job may have been cut if the budget failed to pass.

Another agreement grants more money for an anti-violence program in the city.