Speak Out On City Spending
Queens Borough President Helen Marshall announced that she and members of the Queens Borough Board will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, Feb. 20 on Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s $70-billion-plus Preliminary Budget.
The public hearing will be held beginning at 9:30 a.m. this Wednesday at Queens Borough Hall, located at 120-55 Queens Blvd., Room 200, in Kew Gardens. Mass transit users can take the E or F subway lines to the Union Turnpike station or one of numerous bus routes that have a stop on Queens Boulevard at Union Turnpike.
“On Jan. 29, Mayor Bloomberg proposed a $70.1 billion budget for fiscal year 2014, which begins on July 1,” said Marshall. “While it contains no new taxes or layoffs, it does anticipate reductions for libraries, the Fire Department, the Borough President’s office, community boards, the Department of Youth and Community Development, the Department of Cultural Affairs and the Department of Education.”
She also warned, “The Department for the Aging was spared a reduction in fiscal year 2014, but deep cuts are on the horizon because funding previously restored by the City Council will be eliminated.”
Wednesday’s hearing, mandated by the City Charter, will examine both the expense and capital budgets.
Speakers should register for time by calling 1-718-286-0845 between 9:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Speaking time is limited to three minutes. Anyone who has not registered will be added to the bottom of the list.
Those who testify should also bring extra written copies of their remarks for members of the board.
Anyone who applies for capital funding and represents a nonprofit organization should review the guidelines and complete the application located on the borough president’s website at www.queensbp.org.
The Queens Borough Board consists of Borough President Marshall, members of the borough’s City Council delegation and the chairs of each of the county’s 14 community boards.
