Facing the prospect of at least $1 billion in reduced aid from the state, Mayor Bloomberg said yesterday he plans to meet with Gov. Cuomo “to talk about the details” and plead the city’s case.
During a town-hall meeting at the Bayswater Civic Association in the Rockaways last night, Mayor Bloomberg told residents that he’s expecting less money this year from Albany as the city tries to shore up its budget.
“Albany is not going to be a help,” the mayor said. “Albany is going to be a hindrance.”
Pointing to a story in yesterday’s Post about a possible $1 billion reduction in state aid, Bloomberg added, “A billion dollars — even for a city our size — is a very big amount of money.”
At the same time, Bloomberg was sympathetic to the difficult choices facing Cuomo.
“He’s come into a situation where for many, many years, Albany’s spent money they don’t have and obligated themselves to spend money in the future that they’re not going to have,” he said.
The mayor is expected to meet Cuomo this week, just before the new state budget is released next Tuesday.
“Any cut is going to be difficult for us to deal with and the severity depends on the magnitude,” Bloomberg said.
Cuomo yesterday said he’s sensitive to Bloomberg’s concerns.
“Obviously, we want to find ways to be of service to the City of New York as well as upstate cities,” he said.
“These are tough times for everyone, for the state’s finances, for New York City’s finances. If anything, it requires a higher level of cooperation than ever before.” Mayoral aides said there won’t be outcries from City Hall if all municipalities share the pain and the city is cut proportionally.
Bloomberg has until Feb. 17 to draw his preliminary budget for fiscal 2012, which is expected to reach $68 billion.
Insiders are anticipating that thousands of layoffs will be on the table, particularly in the school system, which relies on the state for 39 percent of its budget.
Without the state cuts, city officials were already preparing for at least 5,000 layoffs to help close the existing budget gap.
Bloomberg, while facing the loss of significant state aid, is hoping Cuomo and Albany lawmakers will back his effort at pension reform. and will support other cost-saving initiatives.
