And although the number of city workers has declined by about 1 percent since Mr. Bloomberg took office, he has been increasing the staff of late, adding nearly 10,000 workers since 2004, bringing the total up to 367,643.

City officials argue that their approach has been restrained, and that the mayor’s investment in services has helped the city thrive, bringing about a still-declining crime rate, cleaner streets and safer traffic conditions.

“Any way you look at it, city government has functioned well over the last almost six years,” said Edward Skyler, the deputy mayor who oversees the budget. “And the resources the mayor has allocated have been well spent.”

The New York Times examined overall city spending as reported by the Independent Budget Office, including state and federal aid, dating back to 1980, the earliest year for which reliable records are available. The spending increases described in this article have been adjusted for inflation.

Of the $60 billion spent in the last fiscal year, $16 billion came from state and federal sources, a smaller percentage than in 2002.

When Mr. Bloomberg took office, he inherited a budget punch-drunk from the aftereffects of 9/11 on an already slowing economy, facing a $5 billion deficit in what was then, in 2002 dollars, a $41 billion budget, including $14 billion from Albany and Washington. The mayor spent his first months in office looking for ways to reduce spending through cutting staff and modestly trimming services, but he increased revenue through borrowing and eventually raising taxes, fines and fees.

“He very deliberately, early on, made the choice that rather than really jamming down services, he was going to hold the service level and raise taxes,” said Mark Page, director of the Office of Management and Budget. Mr. Bloomberg has also personally contributed tens of millions of dollars to the city, forgoing his salary, paying his own travel expenses, donating to social service and cultural groups whose city grants he trimmed, and supporting projects and experimental programs.