Q&A
Funding reductions for Community Food Connections Program
6:26:56
·
3 min
Council Member Diana Ayala expresses concern over the planned reduction in funding for the Community Food Connections Program (CFC) and questions the rationale behind it. OMB Director Jacques Jiha explains the current budget situation and the potential for further discussions.
- The CFC budget is set to decrease from $57.1 million in FY24 to $25.1 million in FY25, and further to $20.9 million in FY26.
- Jiha clarifies that this is not a cut but a 'fiscal cliff' due to higher funding in FY24.
- Ayala emphasizes the ongoing need for food assistance in the city and the importance of maintaining adequate funding for such programs.
Diana Ayala
6:26:56
My next question is is regarding the Community Food Connections Program.
6:27:00
You know, this, program is the is known as the emergency food stamps food assistance program, which provides an array of essential food items to emergency food providers, including food pantries and soup kitchens across the city.
6:27:11
In fiscal year 23, the council called on the administration to increase the baseline budget to CFC, and it increased the budget by 30,000,000, but just for fiscal years 23 and 24.
6:27:23
As the executive budget plan, as as of the executive budget plan, the CFC's budget is 57,100,000 in fiscal year 24, dropping to 25,100,000 in fiscal year 25, and then dropping further down to, a baseline amount, budgeted amount of 2 20,900,000 starting in fiscal year 26.
6:27:43
In our last two budget responses, we called in the administration to increase the baseline CFC at 60,000,000.
6:27:49
We were very disappointed that no additional funding was added to the executive, plan to bolster and continue the CFC program at that level.
6:27:58
And so I can go on and on, but can you explain what the rationale behind the reduction is, and what is the direct impact that this reduction is gonna have?
6:28:06
Because we have, you know, food pantries and soup kitchens that have folks lined around the block since, you know, the beginning of the pandemic, and it doesn't seem to be dissipating.
6:28:14
And so the ink the the need for, resources has grown, and so I'm a little bit confused as to how we arrived at, you know, to the point that we would make such drastic cuts to such an important program.
Jacques Jiha
6:28:27
Yeah.
6:28:28
Council member, as you know, this is, not cut per se.
6:28:31
It's a fiscal cliff.
6:28:32
It was funded at, at the level higher in fiscal year 'twenty 4 than in fiscal year 'twenty 5.
6:28:39
But again, funding determination, for adoption has not been made have not been made yet.
6:28:46
So we're still working, negotiating with council.
6:28:49
And we will assess the needs of these different programs as we move forward.
6:28:54
As you know, this was done last year at adoption.
6:28:57
It was funded, around this time of the year, and we will discuss it with you and folks here at City Council.
6:29:05
Again, this is all subject to resources.
6:29:10
As I said earlier, we are trying to come up with resources to get to the adopted budget as, and but it's just challenge, and we all know there's a challenge out there.
6:29:22
So we have to prioritize, and we cannot fund everything, but we're gonna try to make, make sure that those things that are priorities of the council and the administration are funded if resources are available.
Diana Ayala
6:29:35
I will be shocked if feeding, you know, needy families is not a priority
Jacques Jiha
6:29:39
for anyone.
6:29:39
Definitely.
Sarah Parker
6:29:40
And so
Diana Ayala
6:29:41
I think that that that recognition, that that need, it continues to exist, you know, in in the city, is really important because, you know, we shouldn't have to be having this conversation every year about, you know, feeding folks.
6:29:53
All you have to do is walk around the city, and you see the lines, you know, that stand for blocks.
6:29:58
So I I look forward to further conversations, on the matter, and, thank you for being here today.
Jacques Jiha
6:30:03
Thank you.
Justin Brannan
6:30:05
And now we have questions from council member Joseph.
