Big Apple Mayor Eric Adams has kicked open the door to tax hikes and city layoffs — blaming the Biden administration for the threatened wallops to taxpayer wallets.
Adams has said his administration is struggling to close New York City’s expected $7 billion budget gap next year given whopping migrant costs — and added Sunday that the federal government has been AWOL in terms of financially helping with what is a nationally created problem.
Hizzoner — asked specifically during a Channel 11 interview about possible property-tax hikes and the layoff of city workers to help balance the city’s budget — responded, “Everything’s on the table.
“If you are a homeowner and you have budgeted yourself for your rent, your electricity, your water, et cetera, then all of a sudden your roof caves in, your insurance policy should pick up on that,” Adams said.
“Our insurance policy was the federal government. They’re not paying us,” he said.
In terms of raising taxes, while state lawmakers in Albany control the income and sales tax rates in the five boroughs, the city can hike property taxes — although within limits set by the state.
Adams, asked about raising property taxes particularly on the wealthy, replied, “Everything’s on the table, that’s all I can say.”
But he did note that “when you start raising taxes on middle-income, low-income New Yorkers, you’re placing them further in the hole.”
Asked “where the layoffs would begin,” Adams only repeated, “Everything’s on the table.”
City officials say the cost of caring for the deluge of migrants flooding the Big Apple since spring 2022 will run taxpayers nearly $5 billion in 2024 and another $6 billion in 2025, dramatically worsening New York’s underlying budget woes, which date back to the coronavirus pandemic.
The mayor’s political approval ratings have sunk in recent weeks thanks to widespread pushback on the spending cuts he ordered earlier this year to try to bring the budget under control. The cuts have resulted in libraries ending their Sunday hours and lawmakers warning the reductions will lead to less maintenance and fewer trash pick-ups in city parks.
Adams’ remarks Sunday were a dramatic shift in tone from his responses to reporters at his once-a-week general media gaggle Tuesday, when he was pressed over whether the expenses of caring for migrants could force either layoffs or tax hikes.
At the time, Adams and his budget chief, Jacques Jiha, focused their responses on cutting the costs associated with caring for migrants — including mandating they reapply for benefits and shelter every 30 to 60 days — and pushing for more budget aid from Albany, which has already provided $1.9 billion.
By comparison, federal authorities have provided just $156 million.
“I don’t see the relief in sight coming from Washington,” Adams said Tuesday. “We’re going to need more help on the state during this budgetary season.
“And do we want to get to the points of layoff? No. Do we want to get to the point of raising taxes on these small property owners? No,” he said. “But remember by law, that guy down at the end of the table [Jiha], he must balance the budget every two years by law.”
Jiha said his top priority was containing costs by reducing the number of migrants in the city’s care. He made no mention of either tax hikes or layoffs.
City Hall says more than 80 percent of migrants who have received a 30- or 60-day notice have opted to leave the city’s care. Otherwise, they can reapply for a shelter spot.
“The goal now is bring down the census, manage down the cost as best as we can,” Jiha said.