Mayor, Weprin See Education Cuts For City In State Budget

Governor Eliot Spitzer's considerable problems with the Republican-controlled state senate have been amply documented. Now he has aroused the enmity of New York City's Republican mayor.

The latest Spitzer headache set in on Monday when Mayor Michael Bloomberg stated at a legislative budget hearing in Albany that the governor's proposed 2008 budget shortchanges the city by about $500 million, including funds for education and health care Bloomberg said that the school aid for the city proposed by Spitzer was less than had been promised. He also reminded his listeners that last spring an agreement was reached to fully restore $330 million in unrestricted aid.

"Now it's a year later and we find that instead of the promised full share, we're budgeted to receive only half of what we were due. Well, New York City doesn't need another I.O.U."

Spitzer responded later that because of the slowed economy, everyone had to tighten his belt. Anyway, he added, in his budget, the city would receive a net increase of $1.2 billion over last year in school aid, property tax relief and Medicaid savings.

Backing up the mayor, City Councilmember David Weprin, chairman of the Finance Committee, said "The city could be looking at over $300 million in education cuts."

- John Toscano