Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.
REMARKS
Council Member Carlina Rivera's opening remarks on library budget hearing
0:00:31
ยท
3 min
Council Member Carlina Rivera opens the hearing for the Committee on Cultural Affairs, Libraries, and International Intergroup Relations, focusing on the fiscal year 2026 preliminary expense and capital budget for New York City's library systems. She outlines the proposed budget, highlights the unmet needs of the library systems, and emphasizes the importance of libraries in the community.
- The administration proposes a $480.3 million subsidy for the library systems in FY2026.
- The libraries have a combined unmet expense need of $44.8 million and an unmet capital need of $345 million for FY2026.
- Rivera calls on the administration to increase both expense and capital budgets to meet all shortfalls.
Carlina Rivera
0:00:31
Thank you so much.
0:00:32
I wanna just thank the staff for helping us coordinate this hearing both in City Hall and, of course, in two fifty Broadway.
0:00:38
And I wanna thank my colleagues, majority Whitbrooks Powers and Councilmember Lewis for being here first thing in the morning.
0:00:46
Good morning.
0:00:48
Welcome.
0:00:54
Good morning.
0:00:55
Welcome to the hearing for the committee on cultural affairs, libraries, and international intergroup relations.
0:01:03
I'm council member Carlina Rivera.
0:01:05
I'm chair of this committee proudly and humbly.
0:01:08
Today we will begin with a hearing on the city's three library systems followed by a hearing on cultural affairs, and finally the committee will hear public testimony related to these two hearings.
0:01:18
With that I would like to welcome you to our library's hearing.
0:01:21
This morning we will be discussing the fiscal twenty twenty six preliminary expense and capital budget for the systems.
0:01:29
For fiscal twenty twenty six, the administration is proposing a $480,300,000 subsidy for the systems.
0:01:38
The fiscal twenty twenty six preliminary capital commitment plan which covers fiscal years twenty twenty five to 2029 includes 1,100,000,000.0 for the library systems.
0:01:49
The systems have a combined unmet expense need of 44,800,000.0 in fiscal year twenty twenty six for increased costs related to uncovered wage growth and health insurance, liability insurance, rents, additional staffing needs, capital in eligible IT and deferred maintenance expenses, new and expanded locations and programs, building maintenance contracts and supplies among other expenses.
0:02:17
It is clear that additional funds are needed to help maintain our city's spectacular library systems.
0:02:24
The systems have an unmet capital need of $345,000,000 in fiscal twenty twenty six for comprehensive renovation of branches, critical maintenance, technology upgrades, resiliency and accessibility, and project shortfalls.
0:02:39
Enhanced capital investment is crucial in order to maintain the system's critical infrastructure needs.
0:02:46
The council will continue to champion libraries as a priority in fiscal twenty twenty six budget.
0:02:52
New York's public libraries are essential pillars of our communities, offering resources that promote education, culture, and opportunity for all.
0:03:03
They are more than just places to borrow books, though the books are diverse and absolutely wonderful.
0:03:08
They are hubs of democracy, inclusivity, and lifelong learning, empowering everyone from young students to older adults, immigrants, and families.
0:03:18
Their impact reaches far beyond their walls providing vital programs that strengthen our city's future.
0:03:25
The council calls on the administration to support the library systems by increasing their expense and capital budgets to meet all short form shortfalls the systems have.
0:03:36
It is essential that the budget that we adopt this year is transparent, accountable, and reflective of the priorities and interests of the council and the people that we represent.
0:03:47
I look forward to an active engagement with the administration over the next few months to ensure the fiscal twenty twenty six adopted budget meets the goals the council has set out.
0:03:58
And with that I just want to again thank everyone for being here.
0:04:01
Of course the advocates, the workers, we appreciate your participation today.