Have you read this NYC mayor: State budget would force city layoffs

NYC

By MICHAEL GORMLEY

ALBANY, N.Y.

The proposed state budget would force thousands of layoffs and could reduce New York City police staffing to the level of 1985, before the city emerged as a terrorism target, Mayor Michael Bloomberg warned legislators Monday.

Gov. David Paterson's proposed 2010-11 budget would cut $1.5 billion in funding to the city, Bloomberg said -- forcing layoffs of 9 percent of the city's police officers; layoffs of 1,050 firefighters and the closing of some firehouses; and 8,500 teachers as part of what Bloomberg says is a $500 million cut in school aid.

In addition, aid for other services such as soup kitchens, homeless shelters and transit cards for students will be sapped with no way for the city to make up the funding.

"This executive budget would have devastating effects on essential services in New York City," Bloomberg said.

Paterson's $134 billion budget, presented to the Legislature a week ago, would increase state spending by 0.6 percent, less than the inflation rate of about 2 percent. It addresses a $7.4 billion deficit in a continuing fiscal crisis in part through a 5 percent cut in school aid statewide and $1 billion in new taxes and fees. The governor and Legislature will soon try to negotiate a final budget passed by lawmakers in time for the April 1 start of the fiscal year.

Until then, lawmakers are engaged in the annual process of holding hearings on areas of the budget and restoring spending, some of which lawmakers contend that governors cut to improve their bottom line knowing the Legislature will restore the funds.

By the time he finished his 90-minute presentation at a budget hearing held by the Assembly's Ways and Means Committee and the Senate's Finance Committee, Bloomberg drew assurances from lawmakers that they would try to undo at least some of what the mayor called an unfair budget for the city.

"There are going to be restorations," said Assemblyman Sam Hoyt, a Buffalo Democrat. "I'm not comfortable with New York City getting a 100 percent cut, and I'm an upstate legislator."

Bloomberg, however, said the city and state can no longer increase taxes without risking the exodus of more New Yorkers. He noted that such deep cuts to key services is what contributed to the city's decline in the 1970s.

The proposed cuts to the city include most of Paterson's proposal to drastically reduce aid to municipalities, sometimes called revenue sharing. Paterson proposes to reduce that fund by $349 million statewide, which is about 4 percent for many communities. New York City, however, would see all of its $328 million in aid cut.

"The state is effectively saying to localities: 'We're going to fix our budget problems by starving your agencies,'" Bloomberg said.

Paterson's budget director, Robert Megna, said in a statement that Bloomberg used "selective accounting." He said the city will benefit from Medicaid reforms and other relief from unfunded mandates that Paterson proposed, but which Bloomberg said were insufficient to ease funding cuts.

"New York is facing an unprecedented fiscal crisis, which will require spending cuts and greater efficiencies at every level of government," Megna said. He said Paterson will work with Bloomberg on his fiscal concerns.

Bloomberg, in his testimony, also offered the some pointed political advice this election year to state legislative leaders, most of whom represent New York City districts: "Want to guess how that's all going to sit with taxpayers? Let me tell you, the voters of New York City aren't going to take it!"