Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today announced he was restoring $90.2 million in vital services to the City budget. Since this restoration will trigger $74.4 million in state and federal matching funds, a total of $164.6 million will be made available for needed services and programs.  The Mayor made the announcement this afternoon at City Hall.  

“The last year and a half has required us to make difficult choices,” Mayor Bloomberg said.  “The recession has wreaked havoc on our finances, creating a fiscal crisis that has affected the lives of every New Yorker.  We couldn’t simply wait for the economy to turn around; we had to make tough decisions or risk losing control of our destiny to a Financial Control Board. This austere management demands that we stretch every dollar we have spend and do more - and better - with less.  We have tightened our belts, become more efficient; and reached even deeper into our wallets.  Simply put, we have all sacrificed to keep our City great. 

“It is because of these contributions, which every New Yorker has made during these challenging times, that I can announce we will continue to deliver many of the services New Yorkers care deeply about and depend on so we can preserve the quality of life in this great City.

“It is because of these contributions, which every New Yorker has made during these challenging times, that I can announce we will continue to deliver many of the services New Yorkers care deeply about and depend on so we can preserve the quality of life in this great City.

These restorations total $90.2 million in City funds and will trigger $74.4 million in State and Federal funds for a total of  $164.6 million we can prudently spend on needed services.  They are possible because of the efficiency, accountability, and transparency we have instilled in our government and reflect my priorities as Mayor. They mean that we will continue to keep our streets safe; protect and educate our children, keeping them engaged whether they are in the classroom, at a summer job or in a library; keep our parks clean; not burden residents by reducing pickup of household garbage; help get New Yorkers to work; protect public health and make sure the most vulnerable among us, the elderly, after doing so much for our City, can enjoy their lives and their retirement, as we all would like to some day.”

The restorations include the following programs and services:

Educating our Children - $8 million
Department of Education teachers will get up to $100 each to purchase instructional materials of their choice through the Teachers Choice program 

Maintaining Public Safety - $8 million
$8 million will fund the fifth firefighter in selected Engine Companies in the Fire Department.

Keeping New York Clean -  $11 million
$11 million will be restored to the Department of Sanitation to maintain twice-weekly garbage pick-up citywide.

Keeping New York Green - $12.5 million
The Mayor will restore $12.5 million for park maintenance including hiring seasonal aides, gardeners and playground associates at the Department of Parks & Recreation. This will trigger an additional $25 million from the state and federal governments, which will be used for the same purposes for a total of $37.5 million in funds.

Caring for the Elderly - $5.7 million
After consultation with each of the Borough Presidents, $4.1 million will maintain the operation and services at senior centers in the five boroughs and $1.6 million will fund nine information and referral contracts in the Department for the Aging to provide services to targeted communities across the City.

Helping Families Stay Together - $7.9 million
$7.9 million will fund Preventive Services through the Administration for Children Services including in-home crisis intervention for high-risk families, parenting skills classes and after-school preventive services. This will trigger an additional $14.6 million in State and Federal funds to be used for the same purpose, for a total of $22.5 million in funds.

Keeping our Libraries Open - $7.6 million
These funds will be used to keep libraries open five days a week. $600,000 will be restored for the Research Library; $2.9 million for New York Public Library; $2.1 million for the Brooklyn Public Library; and $2 million for the Queens Public Library. 

Protecting Public Health- $5 million
The Mayor will restore $2 million for Asthma Prevention and control, Pest Control and Lead poisoning prevention programs at the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, which will trigger an additional $1.1 million in state funds for a total of $3.1 million in funds. In addition, $3 million will be restored for HIV/AIDS prevention, education, outreach and supportive services, which will trigger an additional $1.7 million in State funds to be used for the same purposes for a total of $4.7 million in funds.

Getting to Work and School - $2.3 million
The Mayor will restore $2.3 million to the Department of Transportation to operate a fourth Staten Island Ferry during rush hour. 

Engaging our Children - $12.5 million
$10 million fund summer youth jobs through the Department of Youth and Community Development.  This will trigger $32 million in State and Federal funds; the $42 million will create 40,000 jobs in total.  In addition, $2.5 million will maintain after-school services in 135 schools across the City. 

Encouraging the Arts and Economic Activity- $9.7 million
The Mayor will restore subsidies to cultural institutions.

“As I said when I presented the Executive Budget earlier this year, budgets are not about numbers and dollars, they are about people and they are about our City.  And we will never forget that, not as long as I am Mayor,” Mayor Bloomberg concluded.