N.Y.C. Admin. Code § 12-118: § 12-118 Appropriations for contesting office to be made for prevailing party only.

An appropriation or payment for the contesting of the office of mayor or any seat in the council or office in any department, or the office of any officer whose salary is paid from the city treasury, shall be made only to the prevailing party. Such appropriations or payment shall be made to the prevailing party only upon the written certificate of the corporation counsel and of the presiding justice of the appellate division of the first department of the supreme court, certifying who is the prevailing party, and the value of the services rendered in the case.