Mayor de Blasio’s FY16 Executive Budget strikes a balance between targeting resources toward our City’s most important challenges and setting aside funds for the future.
I applaud the Mayor for increasing the City’s investment in combatting homelessness, turning around Rikers Island and serving NYCHA’s residents. Our hard-working social service non-profit employees are well deserving of the COLA and raised base wages included in the budget.
The City has also taken the important step of identifying agency savings and efficiencies. The budget increases the Retiree Health Benefits Trust, raises the general reserve and rolls additional funds to next year’s budget, all prudent steps that improve the City’s ability to respond to the next downturn.
Over the coming weeks, we will be providing a more thorough analysis of the FY16 Executive Budget. I look forward to partnering with the administration and my colleagues in government to implement a budget that enhances the lives of all New Yorkers.