NYC-WTC_000195490

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

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P SSfi

B IS f, The City of New York

April 25, 2001

Statement Pursuant to Section 243 of the City Charter ■fit ; regarding the Operating Budget of the New York City Council ■ ' ■ ■ ■ ■ i / ■ ■ /

Section 243 of the City Charter provides that the City Council:

.L shall approve and submit to the mayor detailed itemized estimates of the financial needs of the council for the ensuing fiscal year. Such estimates shall be comprised of at least one personal service unit of appropriation and at least one other than personal service unit of appropriation for each standing committee of the council and for each organizational unit established [by the council]. The mayor shall B include such estimates in the executive budget without revision, but ; with such recommendations as the mayor may deem proper.

The City Council approved and submitted its operating budget, and pursuant to the City Charter, it has been included in the Executive Budget. Set forth herein are thy recommendations regarding the 1 Council’s operating budget, ! The Council has proposed a three-percent increase in its operating budget. Despite my efforts to reduce the City’s budget, the Council’s submission this year continues its historic practice ! of increasjhg its own expenditures while fewer resources are provided to other Elected Officials and j “ City agencies. Since 1994, the City Council’s operating budget has grown by over 51 percent, including a 32 percent increase since 1999. The vast increases the City Council annually provides for itself stand in stark contrast to the budgetary discipline exercised by other Elected Officials over the same time period. Since 1994, the Mayor’s Office budget was reduced by 38 percent. Similarly, over the same period of time, nearly all other Elected Officials reduced their budgets by 4 percent or more. The efforts these officials have made to carry out their responsibilities in ways characterized by fiscal discipline collectively saved the Bi City over $27 million. If the City Council had made similar budgetary decisions, the City would have benefited from over $7 million in additional savings. The Council should conform its budget to the requirements set forth in the Charter. The Charter requires separate unites of appropriation for each standing committee so that both the general public and the Mayor have a meaningful opportunity to review components of the Council’s budget. if However, the Council has refused to comply with Section 243 of the Charter by continuing its past practice of submitting a budget in which virtually the entire? Council appropriation falls under the broad t units of appropriation of “Council Menibers”, “Committee Staffing” and “Council Services.” Each \ : !

NYC-WTC_000195495