They do it in a fairly civilized manner. Because, after all, they’re budget directors – you know, numbers guys. And, of course, they’re exchanging these barbs in public. Lord knows what’s being said behind closed doors.

NYC Budget Director Mark Page responded thusly to today’s assertion his state counterpart, Bob Megna, that the Bloomberg administration’s numbers overstate the amount of state aid NYC stands to lose under Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s 2011-2012 spending plan:

“We had a fruitful discussion with the Governor and his team today about how to substantially reduce State mandates in order to help New York City manage the State’s $2.1 billion cut, down from its November budget plan.”

“The State Budget Director’s suggestion, however, that New York City has $2 billion in reserves is flat-out wrong.”

“The City is using $1.1 billion of resources generated this year to help close our multi-billion dollar Fiscal Year 2012 budget gap, which, even with these resources, totals $2.4 billion. If the Budget Director applied this rationale to the State budget, $3.5 billion in State closing funds balances from this year would obviate the need for any school aid cuts, statewide.”

“Obviously, this is not reality.”

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