February 9, 2015
Video available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0CUHgcYOQI
Today, Mayor Bill de Blasio presented New York City's Preliminary Budget for Fiscal Year 2016, building on last year's strong foundation and reflecting the administration's commitment to a fiscally responsible, progressive and honest budget process.
The Mayor's preliminary budget—totaling $77.7 billion—takes a cautious approach, targeting investments and guarding against risks. Despite another year of economic growth, risks and challenges remain—and that is why the administration has focused on targeted investments that will create a stronger, safer, and fairer New York City by enhancing public safety and expanding opportunity for all New Yorkers.
View the FY2016 Preliminary Budget.
ECONOMIC OVERVIEW AND THE RISKS AHEAD
The national economy continues to grow at a moderate pace, with Gross Domestic Product projected to grow 3 percent and the economy adding 2.8 million jobs this year. New York City's economic production remains strong, and its employment growth continues to outpace the nation.
However, it's very clear that those benefits have not been shared by all, with far too many in New York City and across the country struggling, and income inequality continuing to grow. Most job growth continues to come from low-wage sectors, while the share of New York City households making moderate or middle income has steadily declined in recent years to approximately 25 percent.
The City also faces significant uncertainties this year with federal and state aid. With changes in Congress, partisan gridlock, and expiring programs, the City is at risk of losing vital funding, and, with the potential for another sequestration looming, it seems unlikely that the Republican Congress will adopt the President's proposed offsets. On the state level, funding continues to fall short of the State's obligations, with a $2.6 billion shortfall in education aid in FY16 despite the Campaign for Fiscal Equity settlement, and a $15.2 billion gap in the MTA Capital Plan.
With the current economic expansion already exceeding the average length of post-war expansions, and the potential for unexpected events, it's important to note that tax revenues and other funding have both declined during past downturns.
A RESPONSIBLE BUDGET
With those challenges in mind, the de Blasio administration's FY 2016 Preliminary Budget is a fiscally responsible plan that takes a cautious approach, targeting investments to key programs that will create a stronger, safer and fairer New York City.
Last year, every independent monitor and rating agency affirmed fiscal responsibility as a foundation of this administration.
This year, the administration is building on that strong foundation. The FY2016 Preliminary Budget is balanced as a result of the administration closing a $1.8 billion deficit, while maintaining a balanced budget in FY2015, boosting reserves at a rate of $750 million a year through the out years, and further reducing out year budget deficits.
When Mayor de Blasio took office on January 1, 2014, all of the City's labor contracts were expired. Since then, the City has settled 71 percent of the expired contracts by reaching fiscally responsible settlements with both civilian and uniformed employees, while securing $3.4 billion in unprecedented, guaranteed healthcare savings geared toward bending the cost curve.
TARGETED SPENDING TO PROTECT NEW YORKERS AND EXPAND OPPORTUNITY
Keeping New Yorkers Safe
Mayor de Blasio's Preliminary Budget includes real investment in public safety, such as:
Investing in Education
The Preliminary Budget moves forward the Mayor's education priorities, including:
Protecting the Most Vulnerable
The budget also makes key investments to protect New York City's most vulnerable populations, including children, the homeless, and immigrants:
Supporting Economic Development
The Mayor's Preliminary Budget supports small businesses and job creation, including with:
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