NYC Budget Talks Snagged on How to Avert 4,000 Teacher Cuts

New York Council members and unions are grappling over whether to use an insurance fund and cut non-classroom spending to avert Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s plan to fire more than 4,000 teachers to help balance his 2012 budget.

Harry Nespoli, chairman of the city’s labor coalition, suggested letting New York apply some of the $400 million of unused cash from the union health-insurance fund to pay for teachers who would be fired under the mayor’s $65.7 billion spending plan. Council Speaker Christine Quinn and Finance Chairman Dominic Recchia Jr. say the city could save $125 million by slashing non-classroom outlays on such things as public relations and outside consultants.