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By Hellen Zaboulani
On Monday, New York City lawmakers made their official response to Mayor Eric Adam’s budget, saying they will seek to undo some of the $7 billion in proposed budget cuts.
As reported by Crain’s NY, the city council said it has identified an extra $6 billion for the budget, which it hopes to use to undo budget cuts as well as make new investments in affordable housing construction and in education. Mayor Adams has set forth a $109 billion budget proposal for the 2025 fiscal year. The NYC council said an extra $3 billion are expected through next year in tax revenues that will exceed projections from the mayor’s office , as well as another $2 billion that were likely underspent due to vacant positions and $550 million of in-year reserves.
“We have consistently said that the budget cuts made by the administration were far too broad and have negative impacts on our constituents and the stability of our city,” said Council Speaker Adrienne Adams at a Monday press conference. Finance chair Justin Brannan added that lawmakers would fight to undo “all of the previously proposed cuts — and then some.”
In March, Speaker Adams already signaled that the council would fight against further budget cuts and work to reverse the mayor’s previous cuts. Last November, Mayor Adams had initiated two rounds of 5% cuts across-the-board for all city agencies, known as “programs to eliminate the gap”. Hizzoner was subsequently able to cancel
In an additional round of cuts planned for this April and restored key funding for police classes and fire department staffing, thanks to an improved fiscal outlook and reduced spending on the migrant crisis.
Per Crain’s, under the council’s plan there would be roughly $1 billion in surplus. Lawmakers look forward to starting budget talks with the Adams administration to agree on a spending plan ahead of a June 30th deadline. The council said it will prioritize reversing the $3 million cut that ended GrowNYC’s farmers market composting stands; as well as undoing the $58 million in budget cuts for the city’s public library system, which they say would curb weekend hours and delay building renovations.
The council also spoke about undoing another $170 million cut to early childhood programs like universal pre-K, and cancelling a $19 million cut to Department of Buildings staffing. Also, on the list is restoring funding for several criminal justice and Vision Zero traffic safety programs.
Lawmakers also announced plans for new spending, including adding $4 billion in capital funding over five years to the Housing, Preservation & Development Department, so as to boost construction of much-needed affordable housing, and propose adding another $3 billion over five years for NY’s City Housing Authority for repairs on existing low-end housing. The council also proposed spending $55 million to fund a second year of property tax rebates for some homeowners. Per Crain’s the lawmakers plan to spend $200 million to fund a full renovation of the Hunts Point produce market in the Bronx.
Last year, the council had similarly found $3 billion in additional money, as it’s not unusual for the mayor’s budget office to be more conservative in its forecasts than the council.
