NYC Mayor Adams unveils $102.7B budget likely to spark battle with council over funding for libraries, social services

Mayor Adams unveiled a $102.7 billion budget plan Thursday that he touted as a road map for keeping New York on the right track without spending too much money — setting the stage for a battle with the City Council, whose leaders let it be known they view his proposal as overly austere.

Adams’ preliminary 2024 fiscal year budget, the release of which marked the first step in a months-long negotiation process with the Council, keeps spending mostly flat across the city’s various municipal agencies as compared to the funding levels set in the mayor’s November fiscal modification plan. Those marked a reduction from last year’s original budget.

In prepared remarks, Adams said keeping spending at such levels is a must because a “perfect storm” of fiscal challenges loom on the horizon, including the city’s skyrocketing health care obligations, mounting costs related to the local migrant crisis and unresolved labor contracts with most municipal unions.

“I know there will be those who will say that we should do things differently, that we should extend ourselves further, save less and spend more,” he said at City Hall. “But as mayor, the buck stops with me. It is my responsibility to keep our city on a stable path.”

He added: “Our disciplined and efficient budget keeps us safe.”

Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and Council Finance Committee Chairman Justin Brannan begged to differ.

In a statement before Adams even rolled out his new budget blueprint, the top Council Democrats said the spending levels dictated by the mayor’s November modification for this fiscal year are nonstarters for them due to its cuts at a number of key agencies.

“The budget vision put forward by the administration to cut funding for CUNY, libraries, social services, early childhood education, and other essential services for New Yorkers is one this Council cannot support,” they said.

Still, the duo said the Council would not block Adams’ November adjustment, instead opting for the unusual decision of not voting on it at all, a symbolic rebuke that allows the plan to lapse into effect later this month.

But Brannan and the speaker said they will not accept a repeat of the November spending levels for the coming budget, which must be adopted by July 1.

“We are prepared to fight to realize our vision,” they said.

This story is developing and will be updated.