Res. No. 160
Resolution calling on the City of New York to equally distribute funding for the operating budgets of New York City's five District Attorney Offices over the next three fiscal years.
By Council Member Crowley
Whereas, The City of New York is comprised of five counties that each elect a district attorney; and
Whereas, According to The New York City Independent Budget Office, each district attorney is responsible for investigating and prosecuting criminal conduct of various sorts ranging from "street crimes" to sophisticated economic or so-called "white collar crimes"; and
Whereas, In addition to New York City's five district attorneys, the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor ("SNP") is responsible for felony narcotics investigations and prosecutions in the five counties; and
Whereas, New York City's district attorneys and the SNP are funded primarily with City tax levy appropriations via the City adopted budget; and
Whereas, New York City's Fiscal Year 2014 adopted budget includes approximately 296 million dollars for personal and other than personal services for the City's five district attorney offices and SNP; and
Whereas, The City appropriated 29 percent of the district attorney funds to New York County; 28 percent to Kings County; 18 percent to the Bronx County; 17 percent to Queens County; 3 percent to the Richmond County; and 6 percent to the SNP; and
Whereas, There are several factors that influence the workload undertaken by each of the City's district attorney offices, such as the fluctuation of both felony and misdemeanor arrests and prosecutions; and
Whereas, Notwithstanding these factors, each county is its own entity and is entitled to the same amount of City funds to fight crime in their respective counties with SNP receiving the remainder of any funds allocated; and
Whereas, Additional revenue for district attorneys may also be generated from forfeiture of assets, which allows the government to seize property connected with criminal activity and restitution payments, which result from the prosecution of financial crimes; and
Whereas, This revenue is collected and distributed to a general fund and may be allocated to the district attorneys' offices; and
Whereas, Currently, there is no requirement in City or State law that funding be allocated to district attorneys based on any type of formula involving quantitative factors; and
Whereas, The State should develop and impose a formula that takes into account a county's population, reported crimes, arrest levels, and other quantitative measures in determining what additional funds should be allocated to each county from forfeiture of assets, restitution of payments, and any other available source; and
Whereas, New York City district attorney offices should have the appropriate funding to fight crime and help safeguard the public safety of all New Yorkers; now, therefore be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls on the City of New York to equally distribute funding for the operating budgets of New York City's five District Attorney Offices over the next three fiscal years.
WJH
LS 223
2/28/14