Fair and Balanced Budget Invests in Vulnerable Populations, Young People and Immigrants While Strengthening Savings and Preparing for the City’s Future

New York – Today, New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, Finance Committee Chair Julissa Ferreras-Copeland, Mayor Bill de Blasio and the New York City Council announced a fair, responsible, balanced and timely budget agreement for the 2018 Fiscal Year. Throughout the budget process, the City Council has encouraged fiscal prudence and pushed for enhanced resources for vulnerable residents. The budget agreement announced today features over $100 million in savings and a growth of $300 million in city reserves to fund programs that protect, support and nurture the city’s most vulnerable communities and institutions, including increased investments in emergency food programs, immigrant services, care for the senior community, and child protection services.

“Throughout this session of the City Council, and the dedicated efforts of its members and Finance Committee Chair Julissa Ferreras-Copeland, we have made this an open and transparent budget process that reflects our commitment to keeping essential city services working for all New Yorkers,” said Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito. “After a comprehensive committee review process, the Council stands firmly behind the results of our negotiations. The FY2018 budget will see much needed additional tax exemptions extended to our veterans, 70,000 city youth provided with the opportunity to gain work experience this summer, the rebuilding and remodeling of our library system through over $100 million in investments, and the equipping of FDNY officials with emergency apparel necessary to keeping residents safe. This all works toward our shared goal of creating a budget outline that truly works for the people. Through this agreement, the New York City Council maintains its pledge to uplift and advocate for all local residents, and I thank Mayor Bill de Blasio, Finance Committee Chair Ferreras-Copeland, my colleagues on the City Council, and involved community stakeholders for making this process possible.”

“Over four years, Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, the Council and I have built upon our improvements to create a budget process that is transparent, responsible and can truly serve the needs of our communities,” said Committee on Finance Chair Julissa Ferreras-Copeland. “Together we have been able to end the budget dance and focus on some of the most consequential initiatives like expanding Beacon Programs, establishing a year-round employment program for youth and reopening libraries for Saturday service. These and many other initiatives have contributed to a fairer city that gives more opportunities to New Yorkers, from the immigrant family to the single mom, to the business owner and property owner. I thank the Mayor for remaining in-touch with his inner Council Member and respecting the Council’s role in this process. And I give my deepest gratitude to Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito for seeing the leader in me and placing the fiscal negotiations of this city in my hands.”

The FY 2018 budget will include…

Strengthening Families in Uncertain Times

From the students in our public school systems, to their parents contributing to our robust economy, families are the backbone of New York City. This budget helps them to thrive. FY2018 budget is intent on providing for the needs of our youngest residents and their caregivers.

  • $18.4 million expansion of the Emergency Food Assistance Programs
  • $4 million in continued support for the Nurse Family Partnership
  • $14.8 million in investment for Special Childcare Vouchers
  • $12.5 million expansion of the Free School Breakfast and Lunch programs
  • $16 million to maintain COMPASS afterschool initiative
  • $100 million in capital funding for improvements to public library systems

Tackling Inequality and Advancing Fairness in Our City

Over the course of four years, the Council has successfully negotiated with the administration to double the number of jobs in the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP). The FY 2018 budget includes an unprecedented 70,000 jobs for young people across the five boroughs.

  • $19 million in additional funding to the Work, Learn, Grow Year Round Youth Jobs Program, amounting to an extra job openings for city young people
  • $22 million to restore the Teacher’s Choice Program

Protecting and Investing in Vulnerable New Yorkers

In the current political climate, a central role of the City Council is to protect the most vulnerable residents. That includes children, the elderly, the sick, and the immigrant community. This budget makes substantial investments to support all.

  • $25.3 million to improve child protective services at ACS
  • Over $20 million in funding for the Veterans Tax Exemption
  • $12 million in allocations for Adult Literacy programs
  • $10 million for the New York Immigrant Family Unity Project
  • $2 million in funding for the Unaccompanied Minors Initiative
  • Continued funding for the Immigrant Healthcare Initiative

Promoting Excellence and Facilitating Efficiency in Agency Operations

New York City features the largest set of municipal departments and agencies in the nation, including a roster of city employees totaling in the hundreds of thousands. The organizations highlighted for investment include those serving first responders, youth, and homeless populations.

  • $4 million to provide fire fighters with a second pair of boots
  • $2.9 million investment toward modernizing the Board of Elections
  • $2.67 million to expand the law enforcement division of the Human Rights Commission
  • $12.7 million for model budgets for the Administration for Children’s Services contracts, runaway homeless youth shelter operators and adult protective services contracts
  • Support for frontline social service providers by increasing the rate for Human Service Contracts by 10% over 5 years, for a total of $70 million

Essential Resources for the Aged Community

The FY2018 budget features a $22.89 million baseline increase for Department for the Aging senior service offerings, representing a substantial interest in serving over one million New Yorkers of advanced age.

  • $10 million for senior center operations
  • $6.5 million toward increasing Homecare Services
  • $1.2 million in funding to improve Case Management Services
  • $1.2 million to extend the Weekend Meals Program
  • $4 million to launch a new Caregiver Support Program

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