Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Bloomberg's Budget Means 5,400 Layoffs (4,100 Teachers)
By
Jen Chung
Published May 7, 2011
Modified May 7, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
NYC Mayor's Office
By
Jen Chung
Published May 7, 2011
Modified May 7, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
No one is happy with Mayor Bloomberg's 2012 Fiscal Year budget, a $65.7 billion plan that will involve 5,400 city layoffs—4,100 of them coming from the ranks of teachers (a 5% reduction in city teachers). A Brooklyn teacher whose job is threatened told the Daily News, "I'm really disappointed. With the population increases, I can't imagine what class sizes are going to be next year... The most vulnerable children will be hurt the most." For his part, Bloomberg blamed a lot of the mess on Albany and Washington D.C.
Bloomberg, who said, "This budget is full of difficult decisions," explained, "We are not immune to the realities in Albany and Washington. And the reality is, both places are keeping more of our tax dollars to close their own budget deficits. I am sympathetic to their need for budget cuts, but actions taken to close their deficits came without changing the burdens they impose on City taxpayers." In fact, per the city's press release, here's the "State and Federal Disinvestment in NYC":
The last 10 years have seen the State and Federal governments’ share of the City’s budget continue to decline.
In FY 2002, the combined State and Federal share of the City’s budget was 36 percent. In FY 2012, the combined State and Federal share of the City’s budget will be only 27 percent.
If the City continued to receive the same percentage of its total budget from State and Federal resources as it did in FY 2002, the City would have received an additional $6.1 billion in State and Federal support FY 2012.
An additional $6.1 billion of State and Federal resources would have reduced the local tax burden for services or New York City taxpayers by 15 percent, or an additional $6.1 billion in State/Federal resources would have eliminated the need for any of the actions in the 10 rounds of budget saving actions taken since 2008.
Bloomberg also blamed rising costs on...pensions and benefits (one example was that half of the NYPD's costs were in pensions and benefits). He also suggested bringing in more revenue by adding more traffic cameras.
The City Council still needs to approve the budget, and it's possible Bloomberg will pull back on cuts in order to win support, but it's doubtful all the teachers' jobs can be saved.
Tagged
city budget
layoffs
mayor bloomberg
Teacher Layoffs
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
NYPD searching for suspect after fatal stabbing in Queens
Officers responding to a call at the intersection of Jamaica Avenue and 173rd Street around 1 a.m. found 29-year-old Sulimon Ferrier, who had multiple stab wounds to his chest, police said.
By
Ben Feuerherd
Published Oct 3, 2026 at 4:38 p.m. ET
NYPD: 2 suspects in off-duty officer stabbing tried to rob victim
It’s unclear if the attackers knew the victim was NYPD.
By
Jill Webb
News
NYPD: 2 suspects in off-duty officer stabbing tried to rob victim
It’s unclear if the attackers knew the victim was NYPD.
By
Jill Webb
Astoria-born Chip City announces sudden closure days after former CEO sues
By
Catalina Gonella
US judge tosses Trump lawsuit targeting pro-Palestinian protesters in NJ
By
Willow Higgins
A big, bright Saturn will be the highlight of NYC's fall stargazing season
By
Rosemary Misdary
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .