Mayor Adams’ 2025 budget wasn’t the worst, but there’s room for improvement

Mayor Adams’ proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year shows a mix of caution and potential recklessness.

The total budget of $111.6 billion is $4 billion higher than the current year’s adopted budget, but after adjustments, it is slightly lower. City-funded expenditures will increase by 6.3%, offsetting the loss of expiring federal funds related to COVID-19.

However, there are concerns about the budget, as the current one includes $7.5 billion in additional spending after adoption, suggesting that Mayor Adams’ budget may also see significant increases later on.

It is anticipated that more spending demands will come from the City Council, and additional funds may be necessary to meet state mandates and program expansions.

Even before accounting for new costs, there is a significant cash deficit of $16.7 billion in the following three years, a gap that Mayor Adams believes can be managed due to potential revenue increases or lower expenses than projected.

Citizens Budget Commission President Andrew Rein warns that the budget may not fully account for planned services, leaving a lack of transparency regarding the city’s fiscal outlook for critical programs.

While the budget seems stable for the next year, there are concerns about future spending growth and the potential dangers if it is not restrained.

Despite the challenges, Mayor Adams has managed to avoid dipping into reserve funds and plans to increase the number of police officers. However, there are still unforeseen costs that may need to be addressed later in 2025.

Overall, Mayor Adams is working to restore fiscal responsibility after years of excessive spending under the previous administration, but there are still challenges ahead that leave New Yorkers in a state of fiscal uncertainty.