Mayor Michael Bloomberg says the city is already feeling the effects of the state’s failure to pass an on-time budget, and urged New Yorkers to call their state lawmakers and demand action.

The budget deadline passed at 12 a.m. Thursday.

An emergency spending plan is keeping state government running, but all nonessential spending is being delayed.

On his radio show Thursday, the mayor urged New Yorkers to call their state lawmakers and demand action.

“Not only is school aid being delayed, but road construction projects in our city and across the state are being shut down,” said Bloomberg. “And that’s putting people out of work at a time when they can least afford it. And it’s also leaving a mess on the roads. We need those jobs and we need the Legislature and the governor to come together and agree on a budget.”

With no agreement reached to close New York’s multi-billion dollar budget gap, Governor David Paterson is asking the leaders of the state’s public employee unions to forgo four-percent raises scheduled to go into effect today.

“In agreeing to forgo these scheduled four-percent salary increases, the leaders of New York’s public employee unions have a real and concrete opportunity to demonstrate they understand the dire nature of this fiscal and economic crisis, and that they are willing to become a serious partner in addressing it,” Paterson said.

This is the fourth year in a row that Albany lawmakers have failed to reach a budget agreement by April 1.

Also as of Thursday, lawmakers and Paterson will no longer get paid until a budget is passed.

(Source: NY1)