Call it "Gloomy." Call it a "Bad-News Budget." After initial word that 23,000 city jobs would be cut and the sales tax might go up, Mayor Bloomberg detailed how he plans to close the $4 billion budget gap the city faces next fiscal year. As the NY Times reports, there are four steps: "Reducing expenses by roughly $1 billion; receiving $1 billion from the federal government through more generous Medicaid reimbursements; securing $1 billion from unions and the state through pension reforms, health care contributions and other sources; and raising $894 million from an increase in the sales tax to 8.625 percent from 8.375 percent."

Here are some highlights:

  • City tax revenue will "fall by 28 percent, or nearly $7 billion, in FY 2010 when compared to FY 2008 levels."
  • The city expects almost 300,000 jobs (in all fields) to be lost by mid-2010.
  • Cutting 1,000 jobs in the NYPD, eliminating twelve FDNY companies, increasing parking meter rates, cutting 549 ACS jobs.
  • Having city employees kick in 10% for health care.

The Daily News points out that the budget "counts on $1 billion from the federal government’s new fiscal stimulus bill to cover Medicaid costs and fill some of the gap caused by plummeting tax revenues — even though that bill is only halfway through Congress. Yet it doesn’t count on another $1 billion-plus in that same bill for school funding, supposedly because it would be funneled through Albany and could be siphoned off. If that school money comes through after all, Bloomberg’s threat to cut 14,000 teachers is instantly moot." So...the ball's in DC and Albany's court?

The Mayor parried suggestions that the wealthy be taxed more by saying, "My assumption is that the state will dramatically increase the personal income tax only because of the magnitude of what I think their problem is." The State Legislature and City Council will have to make decisions about the mayor's plan. Labor unions are already criticizing the mayor's suggestions for less generous pensions, though some labor heads acknowledged this was a starting point. Overall, Mayor Bloomberg said:

"Since November, when we updated the City's financial plan, economic conditions have continued to worsen, with tax revenues continuing to sharply decline. The tough decisions we made over the last year prevented the current deficit from being unmanageable and we now have a plan to close that deficit. We will do our part by cutting nearly another $1 billion in agency spending and the wise choices we made when the economy was booming have helped, allowing us to pay down billions of dollars in expenses for future years.

"But we can't close this deficit alone - we'll need help from partners in Albany and Washington and from our municipal unions, who must be part of the solution. If our partners won't do their part, and we will be forced to make even harder choices than we are making today. In the current economic climate, we have no choice but to act, while fiercely protecting the quality of life that keeps New York a city where people want to live and businesses want to locate and expand. More difficult times may lie ahead but time and again, our unity, spirit, and willingness to stay focused on improving this city for the next generation have brought us through every storm, of every kind."

You can read the budget publications here.