Commissioner Lee introduces DOF mission and FY27 executive budget overview
Commissioner Richard Lee introduces himself and his team, outlines DOF's central role collecting over $50 billion in revenue, and describes his guiding values of fairness, customer service, clarity, and accuracy.
Good afternoon, Chair Lee, members of the Finance Committee and members of the City Council.
My name is Richard Lee.
I am the Commissioner of the New York City Department of Finance.
Thank you for the opportunity to testify today on DOF's fiscal year 2027 executive budget.
I am joined today by First Deputy Commissioner Jeffrey Shear to my left and Jacqueline James, our Chief Financial Officer and Deputy Commissioner for Administration and Planning to my right.
I'm grateful for their leadership and their deep commitment to this agency.
This is my first opportunity to appear before you as Commissioner.
I am honored to lead an agency that plays a central role in the life of the city.
The Department of Finance collects the revenue that makes the city government possible.
We assess more than 1 million properties, administer tax benefits and relief programs, collect taxes and other charges, adjudicate parking summonses,
record property documents, and provide services that touch homeowners, renters, small businesses, and many others.
DOF collects more than $50 billion in taxes and other revenues in fiscal year 2025 alone.
Since joining DOF, I have missed
by the expertise and dedication of the people who work here.
I've also been clear with our agency staff about the people who work, about the values that I want to guide our work, fairness, customer service, clarity, and accuracy.
Most New Yorkers interact with DOF because they have an obligation, a question, or problem that they might find unpleasant.
It is our duty to ensure that those interactions are as helpful and efficient as possible.