Statement by Speaker Christine C. Quinn

“I want to thank Mayor Bloomberg and his administration for their work to put forth the Executive Budget and I look forward to a thoughtful review during the Council’s hearings and the negotiating process to deliver an on-time adopted budget.

“I am pleased to see that despite the halting economic recovery, the Executive Budget addresses several important Council priorities raised in our response to the Preliminary Budget. Specifically, we saved nearly 2,600 classroom teachers, and I am thrilled that the Department of Education has been funded at a level that avoids any further reduction in teachers. This response to our call keeps school budgets whole and prevents classroom sizes from rising further, which is a critical priority that we are happy to see is shared by the Administration and reflected in the Executive Budget.

“However, I am deeply concerned about cuts to childcare programs. Two major programs, EarlyLearn and Out-of-School Time (OST), have suffered unacceptable cuts and are being implemented in ways that create tremendous disruptions for families, communities, and providers. The EarlyLearn program, as presently funded in this Executive Budget, reduces overall childcare capacity by 8,200 seats and cuts funding to areas of the City with significant high-needs populations. Many working families will no longer have access to low-cost, quality childcare.

“The Executive Budget also leaves 20 fire companies on the chopping block, needlessly endangering our city’s public safety.

“Let me be clear – although I am grateful for the progress we’ve seen in the Mayor’s Executive Budget, I still have deep concerns about how the remaining cuts will impact the lives of working New Yorkers and their families.

“As we always have, the Council will work in the coming weeks to ensure the adoption of a budget for fiscal year 2013 that protects the most vulnerable, ensures public safety, and provides all of our citizens with the kind of City in which they can flourish.”
Statement by Finance Chair Domenic M. Recchia, Jr.

“The decreases in forecasted revenues highlight the continued weakness of our economy. In this context, we need to make prudent budgetary decisions and plan for the long term.

“At the same time, it is imperative that we keep the quality of life for New Yorkers at the forefront of our decision-making process. The cuts made to out-of-school time, childcare, and our firehouses have me particularly concerned. Under the leadership of Speaker Quinn, I’m confident that we will once again strike the right balance between fiscal prudence and protecting the vital services that New Yorkers rely on.”

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