Mayor’s Bid to Grab Finance Head Sparks Budget Tension

The mayor is eyeing the council’s finance chief for a new role, stirring friction during budget talks. The move comes as the city’s leaders are already at odds over spending plans. By hiring the finance chief, the mayor could add a new layer of strain to an already tense relationship. The candidate for the position is Richard Lee, who began working with the council in December 2022. Lee has led budget negotiations for the council, a role that is still in progress as hearings continue. The mayor’s draft budget will be released next month, while the council reviews his proposal. A city spokesperson said no final decision has yet been made about Lee’s potential appointment.The council speaker’s office has not commented, and Lee declined to speak publicly. Both the mayor and the council speaker agree on some key priorities, yet disagreements show up in budget details. The mayor’s proposed $127 billion spending plan faces criticism from watchdogs who warn of a looming fiscal crisis. He has hinted at raising property taxes to cover the shortfall, which would involve the finance department. Last week, the mayor dismissed the council’s budget forecast as confusing and harmful to city services. Lee previously ran for council in 2021 but lost, and he also worked at the Queens borough president’s office. The finance department is currently led by an acting commissioner, Jeffrey Shear.