NEWARK — The Newark City Council introduced its 2012 budget Friday but had some harsh words for Mayor Cory Booker in the process.

The $592 million budget was presented more than four months late but six days before a state-issued ultimatum that could have threatened $24 million in aid. It includes $18 million in revenue from a proposed municipal utilities authority and a 3.7 percent property tax increase.

The council blamed Booker for an incomplete budget proposal and a lack of information. The mayor presented his budget in February.

"The city administration knows full well that the budget delivered to the council on February 10, 2012, was submitted without sufficient supporting documentation relating to the administration’s proposed budget projections," Council President Donald Payne Jr. said in a statement on behalf of the council. "For these several months, the council has received ever-changing numbers from the city administration."

The administration maintains that because the council delayed taking up the budget process, numbers kept changing — thus resulting in constantly shifting figures.

At-large Councilman Luis Quintana took particular issue with Booker, accusing the mayor of not playing a bigger role.

"In this budget process, we need to have the mayor engaged. He was elected just like the nine of us," Quintana said. "The absence and arrogance of this mayor needs to be put in check."

City spokeswoman Esmeralda Diaz Cameron restricted her comments to the budget.

"Though it took five months, we are pleased to see that the Council has finally introduced the budget submitted by the Mayor on February 10, 2012," she said in a statement. "We will continue to work with the Municipal Council in a thorough and meaningful budget process. Together we can achieve the adoption of a balanced and responsible budget, which is in the best interest of our taxpayers."

The property tax increase represents an additional $217 for the average city homeowner.

But proposed cuts to the council and clerk spending, and the creation of a historically unpopular MUA, have been far more contentious issues than taxes.

The plan introduced Friday makes roughly $1 million in cuts to the clerk and council budgets, mostly from professional-service contracts. That’s well below the $4 million the mayor proposed, frustrating the administration as well as some council members.

"Councilman Ramos and I made proposals to eliminate council ‘perks,’ reduce cost, reduce staff, etcetera," East Ward Councilman Augusto Amador said in a statement, arguing the budget introduced Friday was prepared by the clerk’s office with little council input. "None of the proposals submitted by us were even considered. So much for participative democracy and outright responsibility by the council on the budget process."

City Clerk Robert Marasco declined to respond to Amador’s criticism.

Another sticking point is the creation of an, which would take over water operations from the embattled Newark Watershed and Conservation Development Corporation. The municipal utilities authority would infuse $18 million into this year’s budget and $16 million annually for the next few years.

But past attempts to introduce a MUA have failed against withering opposition from residents — many of whom are unwilling to lose direct control of city water.

The council introduced the spending plan with six votes. Councilwoman Mildred Crump voted no, and Councilman Ron Rice abstained. Amador was not present.

Now the council will host a series of public hearings before making changes and adopting the budget later this year.

In addition to the MUA, a large debate is expected on outsourcing city jobs — specifically in the area of public works.

South Ward Councilman Ras Baraka said hiring back inspectors and sanitation workers would save the city money on outside contracts and possibly increase revenue from fines. He also said city workers could be trained to perform multiple tasks.

"Once we get them in there, we can get them to do those other jobs," Baraka said.

Crump agreed, saying privatization was an idea that once seemed plausible but no longer serves the city.

"It’s time for us to accept the fact that it doesn’t work," she said.

Related coverage:

• Newark Mayor Cory Booker is blasted by N.J. Assembly budget officer for fiscal mismanagement

• For Newark City Council, a fat budget in lean times

