On April 26, Mayor de Blasio released his $82.2 billion Executive Budget for City Fiscal Year 2017, which begins July 1, 2016. During his announcement, the Mayor described the budget as a statement of “our values and principles” and as a means to “lift up communities.” CCC agrees with this statement and we are grateful for the new investments that will make New York City a better place to be a child. However, we are deeply disappointed that some of the key areas of need for children and families are absent from these investments.

You can review our detailed summary of budget proposals that impact children, youth and families here.

The proposed Executive Budget includes an increase in funding for Beacon community centers, the commitment of $170 million to create a new adolescent facility for youth currently housed on Rikers Island, resources to expand health and social work services for homeless children in schools, funding needed to ensure all elementary schools will be in compliance with State physical education requirements, and investments in strengthening the child welfare system for foster children.

Notably, the Executive Budget fails to make investments in a number of critical areas including saving summer programs for 31,000 middle school students, addressing the need for salary parity for early education staff in community based organizations, expanding universal lunch to elementary and high school students, and increasing the number of youth who can participate in the Summer Youth Employment Program.

Read more in our summary.

You can also read CCC’s testimony before the City Council on the preliminary budget in the publications section of our web site.