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Discussion of CUNY budget cuts since mayor took office
1:04:40
ยท
115 sec
Council Member Lincoln Restler and CUNY's Senior Vice Chancellor Sherif Soliman discuss the extent of budget cuts to CUNY since the current mayor took office. They clarify that despite some restorations, CUNY is still facing significant cuts in the proposed FY2026 budget.
- Confirmed that CUNY faced a 15% cumulative cut since the mayor came into office
- For FY2026, there's a proposed $95.5 million cut (PEG) compared to the previous year's adopted budget
- Despite some restorations, CUNY is still looking at $80 million less in funding since the mayor took office
Lincoln Restler
1:04:40
Sharif, if I recall correctly, you testified last year that the mayor's proposed 2025 budget was a 15% cumulative cut since he came into office.
1:04:53
Do I have that right?
Sherif Soliman
1:04:54
Yes.
Lincoln Restler
1:04:55
And now we're looking at for fiscal year 2026, is that I I think my notes are that we have an $85,000,000 80 5 million dollars less in proposed funding than in the f y twenty five adopted budget.
1:05:08
Do I have that right?
Sherif Soliman
1:05:10
Yeah.
1:05:10
So let me clarify.
1:05:11
Well first let me congratulate you on fatherhood.
1:05:14
Thank you.
1:05:15
I'm looking forward to meeting Elliot soon.
1:05:18
First let's just get that out of the Once we get through Ramadan.
1:05:20
Okay.
1:05:21
So the $95,500,000 in terms of the peg is what it goes up back up to in fiscal year '20 '20 '6.
1:05:34
When you compare that number against what we receive in city support, that is 15%.
Eric Dinowitz
1:05:40
Right.
Sherif Soliman
1:05:41
We are grateful that last year in the adopted budget
Lincoln Restler
1:05:43
That's some restoring.
Sherif Soliman
1:05:44
We got the 15,000,000 a one time fund.
1:05:47
So I just want to say
Lincoln Restler
1:05:49
that million in one time funds versus what was the cut, versus an 85
Sherif Soliman
1:05:53
So it basically took from 94,000,000 to 80 So
Lincoln Restler
1:05:56
79, 80 million.
1:05:57
So still just to be clear, because this can get complicated, since the mayor came to office we're still, as of last year's adopted budget, we're looking at $80,000,000 less in for CUNY since he came into office.
Sherif Soliman
1:06:09
Yes.
1:06:09
And I would say that there are active conversations going on with the budget director, with his executive team to try to get those restorations.
1:06:16
Those have been positive conversations, so we look forward to to the executive budget.
Lincoln Restler
1:06:21
Yet we're looking at further cuts in the proposed f y twenty six budget.
Sherif Soliman
1:06:24
There is there was no restoration or continuation I should say of the 50,000,000, so the peg pops up to 95,500,000.0.
Lincoln Restler
1:06:35
Okay.