Policy Alert, NYC Budget Approved 6/30/20

Policy Alert, NYC Budget Approved

July 01, 2020 • Estimated Reading Time: 4 minutes

Policy Alert, NYC Budget Approved

Hi All,Please see below for an update on the budget that was just enacted in New York City late last night. The Mayor and the City Council came together to pass an on-time and balanced budget that keeps New York moving forward under conditions no administration has ever faced before: a massive pandemic-related budget deficit and tremendous political pressure to defund the NYPD after the murder of George Floyd. The Mayor has low approval numbers and the powerful City Council Speaker is running for Mayor next year. This budget still strikes the right balance and our hope is that it best positions New York on its path to a post-COVID recovery.Please let me know if you have any questions.Thanks, Ryan

The Numbers

  • $88.1 Billion - Total NYC budget for the year, please note that by law, NYC must have a balanced budget.

  • $0 - The budget does not raise taxes. 

  • $1 Billion - Total cut to NYPD Budget (more below) some of which will be directed to youth programming and public housing. Billions will be cut across other agencies, too. These cuts are on top of billions of dollars in cuts earlier this year.

  • $9 Billion - Reduction in city tax revenue over the next two years.

  • $5 Billion - Amount NYC wants to borrow over two years which the Governor and State Senate oppose at this time. The Assembly supports the request. The Mayor will continue to push for this in Albany.

  • 22,000 - Total city jobs that may need to be cut in October if the city does not receive federal or state financial assistance or if NYC does not receive borrowing authority.

Summer Youth Employment

  • Summary - This program partially funds the wages and stipends of young people placed in summer jobs and career exploration experiences by non-profit partners.

  • $115M - Total budget for this program. 

  • 35,000 - Number of young people who can participate (40,000 decrease from 2019).

  • National Context - This is the largest summer youth employment program in the country.

  • Important Note - Tech:NYC will be participating in this program this year and asking you to join us. Stay tuned for more information. 

Defunding the NYPD

  • Hot Topic - This was the most contentious issue of this year’s budget negotiations. 

  • $1 Billion - Total cuts to the NYPD budget in headcount, overtime, and capital construction costs (from $6 Billion to $5 Billion).

    • $500M - These capital construction cost cuts will be reinvested in park and recreation center reconstruction, as well as public housing broadband installation.

  • Activist Opposition - Many activists believe these cuts do not go far enough, particularly the demonstrators who had been sleeping overnight in City Hall Park over the past weeks to protest police brutality. 

  • Public Advocate Jumaane Williams - He attempted but failed to delay last night's final vote because it did not include more significant NYPD budget cuts or reforms.

Final Votes

These members voted NO because they wanted more NYPD budget cuts:

  • CM Barron (D-Brooklyn)

  • CM Kallos (D-Manhattan)

  • CM Lander (D-Brooklyn)

  • CM Menchaca (D-Brooklyn)

  • CM Reynoso (D-Brooklyn)

  • CM Richards (D-Queens)

  • CM Rivera (D-Manhattan)

  • CM Rosenthal (D-Brooklyn)

  • CM Van Bramer (D-Queens)

These members voted NO because they opposed the NYPD budget cuts:

  • CM Borelli (R-Staten Island)

  • CM Diaz Sr. (D-Bronx) *opposed other issues as well

  • CM Deutsch (D-Brooklyn) *opposed other issues as well

  • CM Gjonaj (D-Bronx) *opposed other issues as well

  • CM Holden (D-Queens)

  • CM Matteo (R-Staten Island)

  • CM Ulrich (R-Queens)

  • CM Yeger (D-Brooklyn) *opposed other issues as well

If you have any questions on the budget or budget-related issues, please do not hesitate to contact me.