New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Sept. 23, that the City will furlough all managerial and non-union represented City employees, totaling 9,000 people. This announcement expands on an announcement made last week by the City of a week of furloughs of mayoral office employees which will take place between October and March. The de Blasio administration said the expanded furloughs announced on Sept. 23 will save the City $21 million.

 

The administration clarified to Norwood News that under the previously announced furlough arrangement, also reported by Norwood News,  which affects mayoral office employees, these employees will have to take five days of unpaid furlough between October and March. “They can determine with their supervisor which day is the best for them to do that,” a City official wrote.

 

Upon request for clarification, on Sept. 24, the mayor’s office confirmed to Norwood News that the terms of the additional furlough arrangement for the additional, affected 9,000 employees would be the same as for the mayoral office employees.

 

Referring to the latest furlough announcement, the mayor said, “I know this is difficult news for the dedicated public servants of our City.” He added, “But we are forced to make these difficult decisions as we face a massive budget shortfall with no help in sight. We need Washington and Albany to step up. We need a federal stimulus and we need long term borrowing.”

 

The administration said that it has made historic moves to make the City fiscally responsible and prepared for adversity, including taking the following measures:

 

• increased reserve levels every year and increased general reserve to record levels
• created first ever Capital Stabilization Reserve
• achieved billions of dollars in savings every year, even when revenue was strong
• at the height of the pandemic, achieved the largest savings plan of this Administration ($5.8 billion in FY20 and FY21 and $1.7 billion recurring)
• saw our bond rating increased last year due to strong fiscal management
• created New York City’s first-ever Rainy Day Fund.

 

According to the Sept. 23 City press release, “The City is facing an enormous budget challenge, a $9 billion toll on City revenue, and has already cut $7 billion from the budget between February and the Fiscal Year 2021 Adopted Budget announced in June. The City continues to work with labor groups to find savings and prevent layoffs.”