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Q&A
Discussion of budget cuts and staffing reductions in the Parks Department
0:28:57
ยท
3 min
Council Member Krishnan questions Commissioner Donoghue about the impact of budget cuts on the Parks Department. The discussion focuses on the loss of approximately 700 positions over the past several years and the department's ability to function with reduced resources.
- Donoghue confirms the reduction of about 700 positions due to budget cuts
- The commissioner mentions some baseline headcount increases for specific agency efforts
- Krishnan expresses concern about the cumulative effect of cuts over multiple fiscal years
Shekar Krishnan
0:28:57
So just taking a step back, commissioner, we've every year had to unfortunately do this budget dance battle with city hall, as I mentioned before, not over investments but over cuts and then reversing those cuts.
0:29:13
And every year, we're going through that cycle and making no progress.
0:29:17
And if anything, we've slid backwards then moved forward.
0:29:22
Zooming out, we know that there are no cuts in this plan, but there are also no restorations to the disastrous and damaging cuts that we have seen over the last several years to the Parks Department.
0:29:37
And there are no proposals to reverse the profound and harmful impact those cuts have had on this agency.
0:29:46
We've seen hundreds of positions reduced, many programs delayed or outright eliminated as, quote, cost saving measures, but we know in reality they are just harming and hampering this department's ability to do its job.
0:30:00
And that has undoubtedly impacted our green space, our workers, and the city's ability to care for them.
0:30:08
Looking back over the last several years, isn't it true that in total the Parks Department has lost about 700 positions, give or take, because of these cuts?
Susan Donoghue
0:30:20
Thank you, council member Krishnan, for the question.
0:30:23
And it is the case that in order to meet our agency PEG saving targets implemented both in November 23 and that financial plan and the January 24 financial plan, it was necessary to reduce existing vacant year round positions as well as future vacancies that will be created through attrition, so the agency remains in a hiring slowdown and yes, agent as after the agency fulfills its savings targets, the total peg will amount to roughly the 700 positions you mentioned.
0:31:04
But we are pleased to note, as you said at the beginning, the new FY twenty six preliminary budget does include significant baseline headcount increases for specific agency efforts, second shift expansion, swim safety, staffing for the soon to be open Shirley Chisholm Rec Center, so important adds to areas that are helpful for the agency.
Shekar Krishnan
0:31:28
Understood.
0:31:29
But, you know, as you as you recognize too, we are still 700 positions short.
0:31:33
And in fact, if you go back, to the FY twenty three preliminary plan, I'm just gonna briefly read here, 250 positions cut in the FY twenty three preliminary plan, 200 positions cut in the FY '20 '3 November plan, 118 positions cut in the FY '20 '4 November plan, three seventy five positions cut in the FY twenty five preliminary plan, cuts after cuts after cuts, however whatever metric you look at it by, I mean, that's well more than 700.