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Budget, Education & City Services
FY 2013 Expense & Capital Budget Requests & Service Program Priorities
Every year the Board has a robust discussion about many of the issues that affect our District-this year was no exception. While we recognize the difficult economic environment that will exists for the 2013 budget we ask that there be no cuts to major services affecting CB5.
EXPENSE PRIORITIES:
1. Borough President's Office: Maintain the current budget and staffing levels of CB5.
2. Department of Transportation: Increased funding for traffic planning operations to reduce congestion.
3. Department of Consumer Affairs: Increase funding for inspectors to enforce cabaret laws, street vending and sidewalk cafes.
4. Department of Environmental Protection: Increase funding to hire additional inspectors to help with noise code enforcement.
5. Police: (Traffic Control) Increase funding for additional civilian hires to free up police for traffic enforcement.
6. Sanitation: Maintain funding for sanitation enforcement and fund additional training for inspectors, audit staff.
7. Department of Buildings: Increase funding for inspectors and technology.
8. Department of Homeless Services: Increase funding for Shelter Assistance programs, increase funds for homeless services, including but not limited to; affordable quality housing, preventive mental health services, childcare, foster care, drop-in centers, outreach programs, and improved shelter programs.
9. Department of Cultural Affairs: Maintain funding levels for program groups and small lesser known cultural institutions.
10. Department of Aging: Funding for in home care, meals on wheels.
11. Libraries: Funding to maintain the six day library week.
12. Department of Parks & Recreation: Hire a second full time exterminator or continue certification of gardeners for pest control.
13. Department of Parks & Recreation: Hire a fulltime night maintenance crew to rotate between parks.
14. Department of Health & Mental Hygiene: Increase funding for rodent control.
15. Department of Homeless Services: Increase funding for outreach to runaway teenagers.
16. Landmarks Preservation Commission: Funding for additional agency staff.
17. Fire: Improve funding for community outreach for fire prevention.
18. Fire: CPR equipment and training.
19. Police: Reinstate funding for police officers and traffic enforcement officers.
20. Fire Department: Hire additional firefighters (place majority in emergency services / Hazmat)
21. Housing Preservation & Development: Increase funding for code enforcement, litigation and loan programs.
22. Police: Increase staffing for Paid Detail and the Cabaret Task Force.
23. Department of Homeless Services: Funding for DHS police.
24. Department of Transportation: Funding for the education of use of bicycles in a safe manner and a study of the impact on vehicular and pedestrian traffic.
25. Department of HRA and department of Mental Hygiene: Increased funding for the prevention of HIV/AIDS and all STDs.
26. HPD: HRA to filly support long term supportive housing for people with physical disabilities.
27. Libraries: Provide increased hours, diverse programming, strong collections and sufficient staff to support these functions.
CAPITAL PRIORITIES
1. Department of Transportation: Full depth resurfacing of 56th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues.
2. Fire Department: Fund purchase and installation of emergency power backup generators for firehouse.
3. Education: Need an elementary and/or middle school in our district.
4. Police Department: Funds for additional cameras and camera maintenance.
5. Libraries: Maintain the existing library square footage (including the Donnell and Mid-Manhattan branches) and fiscal support for branch libraries within the District.
6. Sanitation: Funding for basket trucks.
7. Department for the Aging: Build additional senior center
8. Fire Department: Fund Additional mobile command posts.
9. Department of Environmental Protection: Fund additional land purchases as buffer to safeguard water supply.
10. Libraries: Increased funding to purchase information technology equipment, such as computer equipment.
11. Department of Transportation: Continued support for Select Bus Service (34th Street) and expansion to other route.
12. Department of Transportation: Resurfacing of all street identified by the department in priority order.
13. Department of Education: Fully fund school construction by studying site selection and the development of additional schools.
CONTINUING SUPPORT: CAPITAL
.. Libraries: Upgrade temperature and humidity control systems for main stacks (Central Library) and other branches.
.. Police: support for police precinct modernization.
.. Transportation: Upgrade and/or overhaul the underground infrastructure which is a current risk for street collapses and other safety issues.
.. Fire: Support for station house upgrades.
.. Transportation: Continued support for the Plaza program (Times Square, Herald Square and 7th Avenue) and pedestrian improvements.
The above resolution passed with a vote of 31 in favor, 0 opposed, 1 abstention.