File #: Res 0888-2005    Version: * Name: 2005-2006 budget that does not include the Flexible Fund for Family Services.
Type: Resolution Status: Filed
Committee: Committee on General Welfare
On agenda: 3/23/2005
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: Resolution urging Governor Pataki and the New York State legislature to pass a budget for 2005-2006 that does not include the Flexible Fund for Family Services in the form proposed by the Governor and that adds a minimum of $300 million funding for core social services statewide.
Sponsors: Bill De Blasio, Gale A. Brewer, Leroy G. Comrie, Jr., Lewis A. Fidler, Helen D. Foster, James F. Gennaro, Alan J. Gerson, Sara M. Gonzalez, John C. Liu, Miguel Martinez, Annabel Palma, Christine C. Quinn, James Sanders, Jr., Kendall Stewart, Albert Vann, David I. Weprin
Council Member Sponsors: 16

Res. No. 888

 

Resolution urging Governor Pataki and the New York State legislature to pass a budget for 2005-2006 that does not include the Flexible Fund for Family Services in the form proposed by the Governor and that adds a minimum of $300 million funding for core social services statewide. 

 

By Council Members DeBlasio, Brewer, Comrie, Fidler, Foster, Gennaro, Gerson, Gonzalez, Liu, Martinez, Palma, Quinn, Sanders Jr., Stewart, Vann and Weprin

 

Whereas, As part of the New York State budget for 2005-2006, Governor Pataki has proposed creating a block grant called the Flexible Fund for Family Services, which would consolidate funding for a variety of services that have been supported by Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (“TANF”) surplus funds;

Whereas, In 2005-2006 the Flexible Fund for Family Services proposed by the Governor would distribute $1 billion among counties across New York State; and

Whereas, Even though nearly 70% of all public assistance recipients statewide live in New York City, the City would receive only approximately 58% of funds distributed from the proposed Flexible Fund for Family Services; and

Whereas, While the Governor asserts that his proposal would give counties more flexibility to determine funding allocations for social services depending on local needs, New York City’s proposed allocation of $584 million would reduce funding available for programs in New York City by at least $150 million; and

Whereas, The $150 million that would be cut under the Governor’s proposed Flexible Fund for Family Services has funded programs that provide vital support to families in New York City, including child care, child welfare prevention, domestic violence and substance abuse services, employment assessment and eligibility services, summer youth employment and homeless prevention services; and

Whereas, In particular, as proposed the Flexible Fund for Family Services would reduce funding for child care by more than $100 million, which supports 22,000 subsidized child care slots in New York City; and 

Whereas, The Administration for Children’s Services (“ACS”) has represented that implementation of the proposed Flexible Fund for Family Services would force it to eliminate one-third of its existing subsidized child care slots almost immediately; and

Whereas, In addition, the Department of Homeless Services has indicated that implementation of the Flexible Fund for Family Services as proposed by the Governor would force it to cut the $12 million allocated to the Homebase Program, New York City’s sole neighborhood-based homeless prevention program; and

Whereas, Substantial reductions in support for programs such as domestic violence and substance abuse services and child welfare prevention could threaten the safety and well-being of children and their families; and

Whereas, Beyond providing inadequate funds for essential social services in 2005-2006, the proposed Flexible Fund for Family Services contains no guarantee of continued funding for these services in the future; now, therefore be it

Resolved, That the Council urges Governor Pataki and the New York State legislature to pass a budget for 2005-2006 that does not include the Flexible Fund for Family Services in the form proposed by the Governor and that adds a minimum of $300 million funding for core social services statewide.