New York City Budget: Vote First, Read Later

[hrmjustin]

MICHAEL HOWARD SAUL

New York City Council members who approved the city's $75 billion budget in the middle of the night last week were given little time to read it before casting their votes.

Less than an hour before midnight on June 25, city staff handed the hot-off-the-printer budget documents to the council members.

Minutes later, the council's speaker, Melissa Mark-Viverito, moved forward with a council meeting—beginning after midnight and ending at about 1:20 a.m. Thursday—to adopt the largest city budget in history.

Some council members and several government watchdogs are now demanding greater transparency in the final stages of the city's budget process, saying the council and the public should have at least 24 hours to read the budget documents before the council votes.

http://online.wsj.com/articles/new-york-city-budget-vote-first-read-later-1404350780