Mayor de Blasio, his city flush with increasing revenues, on Monday released a $77.7 billion preliminary budget that included a blunt message for Gov. Cuomo — fork over what you owe us.
The mayor raised the issue of the $15.2 billion MTA capital budget deficit and the state's failure to abide by a 2007 settlement that promised additional education funds to the city — saying arguments about lean economic times no longer hold water.
"We're in a different reality, where the state government obviously is in a much stronger position financially overall," de Blasio said.
With advocates clamoring for more MTA funding, the mayor said it was up to Albany — not the city — to help plug the transit agency's budget gap.
He also reminded the governor that the state was shortchanging the city on education aid.
"It's time to have a serious conversation again about the state's ongoing obligation to the city and other cities around the state in terms of the CFE agreement," de Blasio declared, referring to the court settlement of a lawsuit brought by the Campaign for Fiscal Equity.
Last year's preliminary budget started out at $73.7 billion, but increased to $78.5 billion, largely from infusions of federal aid after Hurricane Sandy.
Despite the annual uncertainties about state and federal funding, de Blasio found plenty of dollars for his pet initiatives in his Fiscal Year 2016 budget proposal, including a $40 million boost to pre-K funding and a $45 million increase to after-school programs.
Other significant allocations included $28.4 million for rental assistance to move homeless families out of shelters, and $35.3 million to reduce violence in the city's jails.
Missing from the spending plan were any cuts, which officials said would have to wait until April because agency heads are still working to identify internal savings.
The new state budget is due on April 1, so whatever savings the city achieves won't be known to lawmakers in Albany when they determine how much aid to send to the city.
Unlike former Mayor Mike Bloomberg, who for a number of consecutive years required city agencies to make cuts of a specific size, de Blasio has requested the savings from his commissioners without any mandates.
Budget watchdogs cautioned those savings will be essential if the economy sours.
"The economy is in a good place," said Maria Doulis of the Citizens Budget Commission. "Now is the time to really be preparing and building those reserves so that when the downturn comes, the city can manage it relatively smoothly."
The preliminary budget also didn't set aside any of the $100 million sought by the City Council to hire roughly 1,000 extra cops.
An Councilmember James Vacca (D-Bronx) said he was disappointed the mayor didn't include property-tax rebates for homeowners.
City Hall officials emphasized that the budget reflects the mayor's priorities, and that talks about adding or eliminating programs were just beginning.
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