Cuomo takes 5% pay cut to help budget deficit

Gov. Andrew Cuomo and his top aides will take a 5-percent pay cut to help close this year’s $9.3-billion budget deficit, his office said yesterday.

Cuomo will give back 5 percent of his $179,000 annual salary, or $8,950. His secretary, counsel, state operations director, chief of staff and counselor will also take the cut.

“Families and business owners in every corner of the state have learned to do more with less … and government must do the same,” Cuomo said.

He also plans to cut his office budget by 5 percent.

Cuomo isn't the only local politician who has chosen to take a pay cut. Billionaire Mayor Michael Bloomberg famously earns a yearly salary of just $1 from the city.