By Howard Koplowitz and Adam Pincus
Bloomberg's budget outline was constrained by the growth in pension costs, which he has proposed to reform as a way to trim future costs. In his preliminary budget, there are cuts to libraries and cultural projects that are expected to be restored, yet there was also $31 million for the Queens Museum.The mayor included a move designed to ease future projected budget deficits by reserving $2 billion in a trust fund for retiree health care, from city coffers flush due to the booming real estate market.”Now is the time to address the long-term structural problems in New York City's budget,” Bloomberg said. “We must seize this opportunity, marshal our current resources and work with our partners in government and labor to make the structural changes necessary to the city budget to put our city on track for long-term growth and fiscal stability.” Queens groups can comment on what they would like to see included in the budget at a hearing 9 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 9, in Room 213 at Borough Hall, located at 120-55 Queens Blvd. “Thursday's hearing will help decide the future of our borough, said Queens Borough President Helen Marshall. “The testimony delivered will help us to develop the Borough Board's budget priorities for the upcoming fiscal year.”City Council Finance Chairman David Weprin (D-Hollis) said he considered Bloomberg's proposed budget released Jan. 31 a good start, but was disappointed that the outline did not make permanent funding for items such as libraries and cultural institutions. He said Bloomberg's failure to include these as part of the baseline budget forced the mayor and the City Council into negotiations in the annual “budget dance.”Weprin said the time would be better spent negotiating other items in the budget and not the $200 to $300 million that is often restored as part of the predictable negotiations that occur each year.He added that the city and the state should consider making the $400 property tax permanent instead of issuing the rebate every year, noting that for many homeowners the increase in property assessments is eating away at the value of the rebate.Weprin said the city should advance some additional money for school construction as well.”We don't want to put our schools at a competitive disadvantage if we don't get the money,” from the state, he said.City Councilwoman Helen Sears (D-Jackson Heights) said the mayor should address environmental issues. “I urge the mayor that in the months ahead the environment and the noise issue that affect all New Yorkers will be addressed in greater depth.”Reach reporter Adam Pincus by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229–0300, Ext. 154.
