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Secret Budget Deals Explode to $20 Billion in N.Y.C.

Source: nytimes.com

New York City's budgeting process lets a small group of officials make secret deals that hide the true cost of projects from the public.
These deals, called "kaals," have allowed spending to balloon by $20 billion over recent years without elected leaders' full knowledge.
The practice raises alarms about accountability as the city faces a $7.1 billion budget gap next year.

New York City's budgeting relies on obscure "kaal" deals where top officials privately shift money between agencies, bypassing public scrutiny and elected officials. The New York Times reveals how these maneuvers, used for decades, have exploded in scale, masking billions in spending on projects like migrant housing and sanitation. It involves Comptroller Brad Lander, Mayor Eric Adams's team, and City Council members who argue for more transparency. This matters because it erodes trust in how th