Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
De Blasio's Executive Budget Plays It Safe, But Is It Safe Enough?
By
Brigid Bergin
and
WNYC Staff
Published Apr 26, 2019
Modified Apr 26, 2019
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 .
Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography
By
Brigid Bergin
and
WNYC Staff
Published Apr 26, 2019
Modified Apr 26, 2019
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
When New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio first presented his $92.2 billion preliminary budget proposal for the next fiscal year, he framed it as a plan draped in economic uncertainty and called for his administration’s first austerity measures across all agencies to achieve $750 million in savings.
In his executive budget presentation on Thursday, the mayor continued to issue fiscal caution while he outlined a $92.5 billion plan that achieved a higher savings target with a modest increase in spending.
From the outset, the mayor praised city agencies and his own Budget Office for embracing his first so-called PEG, which stands for “program to eliminate the gap.” PEG programs were routine under the Bloomberg administration where agencies would be charged with cutting a straight percentage. De Blasio opted for a more tailored approach, where each agency was charged with finding a set dollar amount of savings.
“This was an agency by agency targeting process,” de Blasio said praising the “creativity” of each agency. His latest proposal boasts $916 million in total savings including $629 million from the PEG program—up from an initial target of $545 million.
The biggest PEG reduction was at the Department of Education which cut $104 million, including nearly $20 million used to pay for extended learning time at certain struggling schools. The city also eliminated 1,600 vacant positions for a $116 million in savings.
Another notable cut that hit this year’s budget was a $9 million shave from the First Lady’s signature mental health program Thrive. The program faced sharp scrutiny from the City Council and City Comptroller’s office in recent months that sought more tangible information about the returns on the city’s hundreds of millions in investment.
At the same time the city looked to scale back, the state budget also raised new budget challenges. The mayor said the city faced $600 million in “unfunded mandates” from the state. But slathering praise on Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, the mayor said the city was able to beat back half of those obligations, leaving it with a mere $300 million in state-shifted costs to cover.
Those include $125 million: financial assistance to families in need (TANF), $96 million: unfunded election reform mandates, $59 million: vital health services for vulnerable New Yorkers, including services that help combat measles and $25 million: education funding shortfall.
Despite the note of caution, the mayor did outline some new spending. The city plans to add $22 million dollars towards its outreach for the 2020 Census, which the mayor initially allocated $4 million. An accurate count is crucial to determining federal funding for public education, for public housing, for Medicaid, senior centers and more. The count is also used to determine the number of congressional districts in the state.
The announcement comes as the Supreme Court weighs whether the government can add a question about citizenship status to the census, a move that advocates say will lead to lack of participation among immigrant communities.
Still, despite logging almost $1 billion in budget cuts, some fiscal watchdogs said they were concerned the plan didn’t go far enough to keep New York City on economically steady ground.
“Mayor de Blasio's stay-the-course budget does not take the steps needed to preserve services or forestall tax increases in the eventual hard times,” said Andrew Rein, president of the Citizens Budget Commission.
In a statement, the City Council also expressed disappointment in the mayor’s executive budget, noting that they provided a budget response that also found nearly a billion dollars in savings and yet few of their budget priorities were included in his plan.
The Council pushed for including higher levels of reserve funds, pay parity for a range of city workers including pre-K instructors at community-based organizations and an additional $14 million for the 2020 Census.
The mayor’s latest proposal kicks off another round of budget hearings with the City Council. A final budget agreement is due June 30th.
Brigid Bergin is the City Hall and politics reporter for WNYC. You can follow her on Twitter at @brigidbergin.
Tagged
bill de blasio
budget
thrive nyc
Brigid Bergin
Brigid Bergin is an award-winning senior reporter on the People and Power desk. She is fiercely committed to telling stories that help people engage and support democracy. In 2022, she hosted a live, ten-week call-in politics show ahead of the midterm elections called The People's Guide to Power. Brigid's reporting in 2017 included some of the first coverage of a political newcomer now known as AOC. In 2016, she broke the news of a voter purge in Brooklyn just days before New York’s presidential primary, triggering city, state and federal investigations. Brigid also guest hosts The Brian Lehrer Show and All Of It. She graduated from the University at Albany and the CUNY Newmark School of Journalism. Got a tip? Email [email protected] or Signal 917-723-4719.
Read more
WNYC Staff
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Facing drought and sea level rise, authority looks at expanding major NY reservoir
The Delaware River Basin Commission is evaluating options to increase water storage, including expanding a reservoir in New York City.
By
Rosemary Misdary
Published Oct 6, 2026 at 3:16 p.m. ET
Legionella found in Staten Island building's water system after 2 positive cases
Residents say several people living there are members of vulnerable populations.
By
Catalina Gonella
News
Legionella found in Staten Island building's water system after 2 positive cases
Residents say several people living there are members of vulnerable populations.
By
Catalina Gonella
Legal 'loophole' helps NY Gov. Kathy Hochul, Bruce Blakeman raise millions
By
Jon Campbell
Police identify 2 men wanted for stabbing an off-duty NYPD officer
By
Ben Feuerherd
NYC’s autumn foliage will be a fall feast this year
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 .