QUESTION
Why are budget cuts (pegs) being implemented on the Department of Cultural Affairs, and what are the implications?
1:57:23
·
145 sec
Jacques Jiha explains that budget cuts to the Department of Cultural Affairs are due to a necessary "all hands on deck" approach to address a significant budget gap, despite the city valuing cultural institutions.
- The Department of Cultural Affairs faces a budget reduction totaling $11,600,000 in the fiscal year 2024 and subsequent annual cuts. - Jacques Jiha emphasizes the city's appreciation for cultural institutions and their exemption from initial budget cuts (pegs). - The necessity to involve all agencies in budget cuts arises from a large budget gap. - The Administration promises to review and potentially restore funding if the economic situation improves. - Council Member Rivera highlights the economic impact and contributions of cultural institutions to the city.
Carlina Rivera
1:57:23
The Department of Cultural Affairs PAGS totals 11,600,000 in fiscal school year 2024 and 7,600,025.
1:57:32
The fiscal 25 preliminary plan includes a reduction of 4,200,000 in 24, 2,225, and 2,100,000 in the out years for cultural development fund recipients.
1:57:45
Can you explain the decision making process?
1:57:47
Why is the administration implementing pegs on an agency?
1:57:51
Which distributes 95% of its funding to nonprofit organizations.
1:57:58
And with that late announcement over 6 months into the fiscal year, What changes will you make so these unacceptable delays don't happen again?
Jacques Jiha
1:58:11
As I said before, we value the work that the cultural institutions do in the city.
1:58:18
It's not by accident that they were exempted from the 4 pegs, okay, that this administration did, okay, the 1st 2 years.
1:58:28
So it's because we value what they do, and we see the importance of what they do for the city.
1:58:36
However, the size of the budget gap that we had to deal with requires that on all hands on deck approach in terms of asking everyone, every agency to make contributions.
1:58:51
That's the reason why the opaque.
1:58:54
And as I stated before, if economic conditions improve, And we have resources when we get more than we had secreted currently.
1:59:08
We will work with the council okay, in terms of identifying, reviewing, drink priorities, okay, that can be partially or fully funded early story?
Carlina Rivera
1:59:21
Well, I I I would say that they were exempted because the council thought very hard for those restorations as well.
1:59:28
And if you're looking at, you know, the economic outlook and should things improve, as you've mentioned quite a few times.
1:59:37
Let's talk about cultural institutions and groups.
1:59:39
I mean, they're a huge revenue driver.
1:59:41
This is 22,000,000,000 in economic activity with an ecosystem that includes small businesses and major tourism.