The austerity measures became an albatross for Adams and ultimately came for naught: the cuts were later restored by city lawmakers who took a victory lap at the expense of the mayor’s administration. An OMB-instituted hiring freeze, while providing a necessary cash cushion, also eventually strained the government’s ability to deliver services.

Soliman will come into the role with a previous working relationship with incoming First Deputy Mayor Dean Fuleihan. During the de Blasio administration, Soliman served as a senior adviser to Fuleihan in the first deputy mayor’s office. In addition to his commissioner role, Soliman worked in intergovernmental affairs and for the deputy mayor for operations before transitioning into a senior policy adviser role under Adams. He most recently served as a senior vice chancellor and the chief financial officer for the City University of New York.

“Budgets reflect the values of an administration — they are about innovation and excellence in government,” Soliman said in a statement. “I look forward to the work ahead in building a budget that delivers real wins for working New Yorkers.”

He will undoubtedly end up tangling with lawmakers in the Council, who must vote to approve the spending plan.

At an unrelated press briefing Wednesday, Mamdani pledged to avoid some of the back-and-forth with the Council that caused Adams so much agita — though OMB will be loath to give up some of its many informational advantages. With its granular insight into the line items of every corner of government, the agency has a far more thorough understanding of where money is being spent — giving it an upper hand over lawmakers during the budget process.

“I’m looking forward to having a budget process that is honest, as opposed to one that is more characterized as if it is a game,” Mamdani said.