MAYOR GIULIANI VETOES EXCESSIVE CITY COUNCIL SPENDING
Restores Some Appropriations For Cultural Institutions, Libraries, Building Inspectors, Asthma Initiative and Mental Health Programs
Won't Allow Council To Destroy City's Fiscal Stability
In an attempt to maintain the reduction of the City's out-year gaps -- achieved through five years of prudent budgeting -- Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani today vetoed $196 million (all funds) in unsupported City Council spending. The vetoes were prompted by concerns that the budget submitted to the Mayor by Speaker Peter Vallone and the New York City Council expanded the City's out-year gaps by more than $2 billion. Most "member items" were also vetoed.
"The action I am taking today restores a greater degree of fiscal integrity to the budget submitted by Speaker Vallone and the City Council," Mayor Giuliani said. "By increasing the City's out-year gaps by more than $2 billion, the Council threatened to undo the fiscal balance we have worked so hard to attain. These vetoes eliminate $196 million in unjustified spending while maintaining funding for libraries, cultural institutions, building inspectors and important health initiatives."
The Mayor concluded, "And finally, I have taken this opportunity to veto millions of dollars in 'member item' spending that has for too long bloated our City's budget."
The Mayor restored money to cultural institutions (more than $11 million) and libraries (approximately $15 million) -- maintaining these entities at present levels. Any new appropriations to these organizations over and above prior funding levels have been vetoed. Money for child care remains at the levels presented in the Executive Budget.
Department of Mental Health - The Mayor accepted $1 million for a "work-readiness" program for mentally retarded persons and a day care program for mentally disabled children.
Department of Buildings - $783,000 in spending for code enforcement inspection of illegal conversions and facades was accepted.
Funding in the amount of $4.2 million for the five District Attorneys and the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor which will help support the City's anti-drug initiative has also been approved.
Conflicts of Interest Board - $127,000 for ethics training, maintenance contracts and publication equipment was not vetoed.
The Mayor also said that because the courts have ruled that the City MUST fund the Independent Budget Office, $2.7 million in funding has been maintained for the IBO.
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