CSCS: Council of Senior Centers and Services of NYC, Inc.

Action Alert

ACTION ALERT
JUNE 16, 2004

FULL COURT PRESS NEEDED AS CITY BUDGET PROCESS 
GETS DOWN TO THE WIRE 

CALLS TO COUNCILMEMBERS ARE NEEDED TO URGE FUNDING FOR SALARY INCREASES AND SERVICES FOR SENIORS

What's happening:

• The Bloomberg administration and City Council are getting towards the end of the city budget process - a budget has to be adopted by June 30th.
• CSCS staff is constantly at City Hall making sure a salary increase is funded and senior services funding is not cut. It's important Councilmembers know that you know what is going on in the budget process - senior voices must be heard!
• Each borough delegation meets to decide its budget priorities. It's important that salary increases and senior service funding stays on their budget priority list. As we get closer to the final agreement, items get taken off. Phone calls to Councilmembers are needed immediately to keep aging services funding on the budget priority list of all the borough delegations.

THE MESSAGE IS:

• After five years of no salary increases, now is the time to fund salary increases for workers in senior services agencies. No cuts to services for the elderly.
• If you received ESL and/or Safe Streets funds, urge your Councilmembers to make restoring these programs budget priorities.

WHAT THE CUTS ARE: $9.7 MILLION CUT TO DFTA:

Eliminates take home weekend meal program for 7500 seniors	$ 1.7 million
Eliminates Borough President funds	$ 7.5 million
Extended Services Programs	$ 480,000

Additional funding restorations: $3.2 million

English as a Second Language (ESL)	$ 1.0 million
Safe Streets/Elderly Crime Victims	$ 2.2 million

Salary increases needed: Aging services workforce hasn't received a salary increase in five years - since April, 1999.

Salary Increase - aging services workforce

$7-$8 million

For further information, please call Bobbie Sackman, (212) 398-6565, ext. 226

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