FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PR- 149-03 June 04, 2003 MAYOR MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG ANNOUNCES $90.2 MILLION RESTORATION PACKAGE FOR VITAL CITY SERVICES Restorations Reflect the Mayor’s Priorities and the Public’s Sacrifices 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 Maintaining Public Safety - $8 million Keeping New York Clean - $11 million Keeping New York Green - $12.5 million Caring for the Elderly - $5.7 million Helping Families Stay Together - $7.9 million Keeping our Libraries Open - $7.6 million Protecting Public Health- $5 million Getting to Work and School - $2.3 million Engaging our Children - $12.5 million Encouraging the Arts and Economic Activity- $9.7 million “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. CONTACT: Edward Skyler / Jordan Barowitz (212) 788-2958 |
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