In September, Mayor Adams directed all city agencies to find cuts equal to at least 5% of the city’s contribution to their annual budgets by November, in response to what he described as unsustainable levels of spending on the ongoing influx of asylum seekers. Additional cuts of 5% are expected in January and again in spring 2024.
Impacts for Brooklyn families:
Brooklyn Public Library will no longer support Sunday service at the locations that currently offer it. Mid-year budget cuts will also require them to reduce spending on library materials, programming, and building maintenance. The last day of Sunday service will be December 17, 2023 at the Brooklyn Heights, Central and other branches in Brooklyn. Hours Mondays to Saturdays will not be affected.
Some public schools in our neighborhoods face mid-term budget cuts due to lower-than projected enrollment. This means they have to return allocated money to the Department of Education.
The press office of the Department of Education declined to comment on our various requests for information on 3K and UPK seat availability in District 13 and 15 for next school year 2024/2025. Children born in 2020 (pre-K) and 2021 (3-K) will be eligible to apply from January 10th until March 1st, 2024. Currently none of the existing 3k and UPK programs in our neighborhoods have been eliminated from the website of the Department of Education.
From our council member Lincoln Restler:
“As a result of these draconian budget cuts, schools are being forced to cut half a billion dollars midyear, and many thousands of 3K and pre-k spots will be eliminated. Furthermore, libraries have announced an end to Sunday hours starting in December, and vital initiatives like community composing and afterschool programs are being cut. Revenue is up, reserves are steady, but the Mayor insists on continuing to make deeply harmful cuts. We are still working to understand the full impact these cuts will have on schools and services in the 33rd.”
“Cuts such as ending Sunday service at libraries, slashing 3K seats, reducing funding for neighborhood schools, eliminating community composting, decreasing litter basket pick up, and so much more will cause real harm in our district and across the City. Unfortunately, the Mayor is planning multiple rounds of even more problematic budget cuts in the months ahead. I am committed to pushing back to reduce painful cuts and will keep you posted on ways you can make your voice heard and get involved in the effort to make sure essential services are properly funded. The City Council will be holding an oversight hearing on the budget cuts on December 11th at 10AM and we will share more information about rallies beforehand and opportunities to testify at the hearing.”
