Mount Vernon mayor, comptroller, City Council president at odds over spending plan

Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Thomas, the comptroller and the City Council president are at war over the city's spending plan.
Two months after the 2019 Mount Vernon budget was supposed to be enacted into law, city leaders are still fighting about it.

Thomas, Comptroller Deborah Reynolds and City Council President Andre Wallace were at each others' throats at the Board of Estimate meeting over the 2019 spending plan and its 1.93 percent tax rate increase. The City Council passed the spending plan last week over the objections of the mayor.

Thomas vetoed the spending plan on Friday, and on Tuesday tried to reintroduce his own budget. 
Wallace and Reynolds shot him down.

“It’s shameful what's coming out of your mouth. The comptroller isn't lying about the budget. I'm not going to change the budget,” said Wallace.
MORE: 2019 budget passed in Mount Vernon, mayor cries foul 

The tension from the meeting spilled out into the hallways of City Hall, with the disagreement almost getting physical. The mayor attacked Wallace for not agreeing to meet with him immediately to discuss city business.
Wallace said he'd rather save it for another time.

"You said, ‘Let’s make money under the table.’ Get the f*** out of here,” said Thomas.

The City Council could meet in the coming days to override the mayor's budget veto. 
Thomas insists he's appealing to the federal government to appoint a special monitor to oversee the city, though it’s not clear if it will happen.
 
Mt. Vernon mayor, City Council president square off in heated confrontation over 2019 budget