Q&A
Budget challenges and potential funding cuts for NYC Aging
1:18:16
·
7 min
Council Member Hudson inquires about NYC Aging's plans to address a significant decrease in funding starting in fiscal 2026 due to expiring federal pandemic-related funding. Commissioner Cortés-Vázquez acknowledges the fiscal cliff and mentions ongoing conversations with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to address the impact on various programs.
- The agency budget is projected to decrease from $550.2 million in fiscal 2025 to $425.9 million in fiscal 2026
- Commissioner expresses confidence in finding a good solution through discussions with OMB
- Specific impacts on programs are being evaluated in case the fiscal cliff materializes
Crystal Hudson
1:18:16
Great.
1:18:16
In the adopted plan, NYC Aging's fiscal 2025 budget totals 550 $200,000, decreasing by $124,300,000 to $425,900,000 in fiscal 2026.
1:18:33
A larger contributor to this decrease is the firing federal pandemic related funding, which totals $68,200,000 in fiscal 2025 only.
1:18:44
How is NYC aging planning on addressing the significant decrease in funding for the agency starting in fiscal 2026, and will additional funding be added?
Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez
1:18:56
So, you know, it's early to have a budget conversation, but I can tell you that the fiscal cliff that you're mentioning is on the public record.
1:19:07
And we've already engaged with OMB in these conversations because it has an impact on OACs, and it has impact on the North RFP and all of those issues.
Crystal Hudson
1:19:20
And that's why just to be clear, that's why I'm asking a question.
1:19:23
We're talking about all of this plus the community
Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez
1:19:25
care plan.
1:19:26
I I have a high degree of confidence given my conversations with ONB.
1:19:31
That we're engaged in very strong conversations, and and they're very much aware of the impact if that fiscal cliff becomes a reality.
1:19:45
And so these are very good productive conversations, and I have a high degree of confidence that we'll be able to come up with a with a a very good solution.
Crystal Hudson
1:19:56
Okay.
1:19:58
If funding is not added, what programs or areas of the agency will be impacted by this fiscal cliff, and which programs and services might need
Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez
1:20:07
to That's one of the things that we're talking with OMB right now, giving them you know, worst case scenario, it's giving them different different impacts by by program, by community, by program area.
1:20:22
Those are the conversations that we're we're having right now.
Crystal Hudson
1:20:25
Okay.
1:20:25
And which programs are utilizing the federal pandemic related funding?
1:20:29
Say that again.
1:20:30
Which programs are utilizing the federal pandemic related funding?
Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez
1:20:35
You know, that I when you said that earlier in your opening statement, our our federal dollars and Jose will I can get back to you on that.
1:20:46
But our our most of our, whatever you would call them, pandemic, I don't understand what this meant.
1:21:03
So those pen those federal dollars were used to support OACs and Nords, but a lot of that was baseline with capital dollar.
1:21:10
I mean, with
Crystal Hudson
1:21:13
City funding.
1:21:15
Okay.
1:21:17
A lot of it.
Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez
1:21:18
Yeah.
1:21:19
I'll have to get you those numbers.
1:21:20
I'm not prepared to to address any of those very specifics.
1:21:24
Right now.
Crystal Hudson
1:21:25
Okay.
1:21:35
Do you know how much of the funding has been replaced with Citi funds to date?
Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez
1:21:41
You wanna you know what I have for you?
1:21:47
It's interesting.
1:21:50
Okay.
1:21:51
We'll get back to you on that.
1:21:53
But what I had for you was the budget dollars for the community care plan.
1:21:59
Those were the only dollars that I have available with me today.
Crystal Hudson
1:22:05
Okay.
1:22:07
You mentioned that some of the programs have been replaced with Citi dollars, but I think only partially?
Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez
1:22:16
I'm gonna get back to you on the correct answer for that.
Crystal Hudson
1:22:18
Okay.
1:22:19
And then specifically related to the community care plan how would budget cuts meet the stated goals of the plan?
Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez
1:22:27
It's one of the conversations we're having with OMB and looking at the impact.
1:22:32
We'll get back to you on that.
Crystal Hudson
1:22:33
So you're trying to minimize the impact.
Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez
1:22:36
Yeah.
Crystal Hudson
1:22:44
In your conversations with OMB, do you know if they have plans to increase your budget that would align with the increase in older New Yorkers and the needs that we can clearly anticipate.
1:22:56
Can you take your conversations with the OMB to the bank?
1:23:00
See what I did this.
Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez
1:23:01
I can tell you that they are fully transparent and open conversations with OMB.
1:23:10
And they're aware of the impact of of the growing population, they're very much aware of the diversity in that population, and they're also very much aware of the growing caregiving needs.
1:23:29
So I taking it to the bank, I can tell you have full confidence in the degree and depth of those conversations and that we are being heard and that it is a transparent and responsible conversations.
Crystal Hudson
1:23:44
Okay.
1:23:44
So we've heard that there might be up to 60 older adult centers that that would close.
1:23:53
Is that part of the plan or part of the conversations you're having with online?
Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez
1:23:57
That's never gonna be part of the plan.
1:23:59
But that's part of the conversations that we have with OMB.
1:24:02
What would be the impact?
1:24:03
Would it be 60?
1:24:04
I can't give you a number because those conversations are are fluid.
Crystal Hudson
1:24:10
I know you can't necessarily answer this question you don't speak on behalf of OMB, but it really is honestly and truly baffling to me that OMB in every budget hearing that you know, I've been in with them.
1:24:27
I I asked them and tell them the same exact thing I do everywhere.
1:24:30
You know, I am like a broken record.
1:24:33
We know the population increases among older adults.
1:24:38
And NYC aging continues to be cut.
1:24:41
Do you think they, like, really understand the implications of continuing to cut your budget given the increasing population?
Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez
1:24:51
I can tell you what I can tell you with certainty.
1:24:55
Is that the conversations we've had with them, which are responsible conversations, which are transparent conversations, they're aware of the impact of the public plan if it if it gets materialized.
1:25:12
Okay.
1:25:17
And have been responsible in their response to us.
1:25:22
Okay?
1:25:23
And your response to you.
1:25:25
Right.
1:25:26
Right.
1:25:26
Not necessarily in their response to me.
