NEW YORK – The New York City budget for fiscal year 2024 has been the subject of focus for the cuts it would bring to city agencies.
On Tuesday, it was revealed that the director of the Budget, Jackques Jiha, would have asked the agencies through a letter to cut their budgets by 4%. If so, agencies such as the Department of Education, the Department of Transportation, the FDNY or the Police Department would have to reduce costs in their resources.
One of the reasons the Eric Adams administration would be calling for cuts would be because of the city’s spending with the arrival of thousands of asylum seekers.
Agency leaders express their discontent with the request.
“The mayor’s budget cuts have already put New Yorkers in jeopardy this year by significantly slowing the traffic safety infrastructure work needed to protect New Yorkers from preventable traffic violence,” the Transportation Committee chairwoman said in a statement. and Infrastructure, Selvena N. Brooks-Powers. “These fabricated and irresponsible spending restrictions will only make it more difficult for agencies like the Department of Transportation to provide the protected bus lanes, bike lanes, street redesigns, and other essential services required by law,” she added.
Given this, it is expected that on Wednesday there will be a protest at the City Hall demanding that they not make the cuts.
Earlier in the year the mayor presented his preliminary $102.7 billion city budget for fiscal year 2024 (FY24). It implements a Citywide Savings Program and institutes a Program to Close the Gap (PEG) to achieve savings of $551 million during the current and next fiscal year.
He Council responded to the tax on Tuesday identifying an additional $2.7 billion in potential resources through the end of fiscal year 2024.
“These additional resources are sufficient to address the unmet needs identified by the Council during its budget hearings, while devoting a substantial portion to holding in reserve to address any future budget risks,” the report read.
Although a decision would not be made until July, they are already demanding solutions so that the resources of city agencies are not reduced.
