Public Employee Press

Bloomberg budget cuts services, kills jobs

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg's proposed $68.7 billion budget for next year continues his policy of shrinking city services and wiping out municipal jobs.

While acknowledging that the budget doesn't call for mass layoffs, DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts criticized the administration for moving ahead with its November plan to cut 1,266 jobs through layoffs and attrition by June 30, 2013.

Currently, the union is meeting with the city over 40 layoffs scheduled for this month.

"Laying off 40 workers in a $68.7 billion budget won't change anything, but it will destroy the lives of these members," said DC 37 Research and Negotiations Director Evelyn Seinfeld. DC 37 is exploring alternatives to the layoffs as it also works to make sure that the city follows proper layoff procedures and recognizes the rights of the affected workers.

As the union confronts the layoffs, it is also gearing up to fight to improve the budget.

"The mayor's proposed budget doesn't include many of the restorations we achieved last year with the help of the City Council, so we will be busy in the next few months as the City Council examines the mayor's budget," Roberts said.

Last year, DC 37 and many locals carried out an aggressive fight-back campaign that convinced the City Council to restore more than $130 million in cuts Bloomberg sought at the Administration for Children's Services, libraries and cultural institutions and the Departments of Health and Parks.

City Council Finance Committee Chair Dominic M. Recchia Jr. said the council will push to restore $74 million for the city's three library systems and $40 million for cultural institutions.

Under the preliminary budget Bloomberg unveiled Feb. 2, spending will increase by $1.3 billion in fiscal year 2013, which begins July 1.

The mayor will release his executive budget in April, and the final budget must be in place, with the City Council's approval, by June 30.

The mayor's proposal would eliminate a $2 billion gap projected for next year. But Bloomberg said that in a year the city will face a new budget gap of $3 billion, which he blamed on rising pension and health-care costs.

In his budget presentation, Bloomberg expressed strong support for Gov. Andrew Cuomo's plan to create a new pension tier with a 401(k) option for future state employees.