Mayor’s Bid to Grab Finance Head Sparks Budget Tension

The mayor is eyeing the council’s finance chief for a new position, adding tension to already strained budget negotiations.

Candidate: Richard Lee, who joined the council in December 2022 and has led ongoing budget negotiations.
Current Status: Lee’s appointment is still under discussion; no final decision has been made.
Mayor’s Plan: A draft budget set for release next month, with a proposed $127 billion spending plan that may involve raising property taxes.
Council Response: The council is reviewing the mayor’s proposal, while watchdogs warn of a looming fiscal crisis.
Background: Lee previously ran for council in 2021 and worked at the Queens borough president’s office. The finance department is currently headed by acting commissioner Jeffrey Shear.

Both the mayor and council speaker share some priorities, but disagreements over budget details continue to surface. The council speaker’s office has not commented, and Lee declined to speak publicly.

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