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Q&A

Fluctuations in Immigrant Opportunity Initiative (IOI) funding

1:03:03

·

149 sec

Councilmember Avilés questions the significant fluctuations in funding for the Immigrant Opportunity Initiative (IOI) program, noting a rise from $1.1 million to $14.1 million in FY2025, followed by a drop to $7.1 million in FY2026. DYCD officials are unable to provide immediate explanations for these changes.

  • DYCD officials promise to follow up with more detailed information about the funding disparities
  • Confusion arises about whether the program is under DYCD's purview or belongs to another department
Alexa Avilés
1:03:03
We do we do appreciate the challenges of the uncertain environment, but it but it is certainly a little disconcerting that we are facing pretty eminent cuts and we have no semblance of a plan yet.
1:03:18
In terms of, I'd like to segue a little bit to the immigrant opportunity initiative.
1:03:23
The preliminary plan includes, excuse me, the current budget for DYC's immigrant opportunities program totals 14,100,000.0 in fiscal twenty five.
1:03:34
The funding drops to 7,100,000.0 in fiscal twenty six.
1:03:39
For context, at adoption, the programs were budgeted for a total of 1,100,000.0.
1:03:46
What is the reason for this initial increase in fiscal twenty five, and then sudden decrease in '26?
Nevita Bailey
1:03:55
Councilman Villa, you're referring to our immigrant services program?
Alexa Avilés
1:04:00
The immigrant opportunity initiative, the IOI.
Nevita Bailey
1:04:07
This a council fund or the discretion?
Alexa Avilés
1:04:09
No, this is your is your initiative.
1:04:12
Started at 1,100,000.0, expanded again to 14,100,000.0, and then has dropped to 7,100,000.0.
1:04:23
Wild flows up and down.
Nevita Bailey
1:04:28
I'll follow-up with you afterwards and can and give you more information about what the disparities are within that budget.
Alexa Avilés
1:04:32
Okay.
1:04:32
So we'd like to know that.
1:04:34
We'd also like to know what is the relationship between the DYCD's IOI program and the council's funded IOI program.
1:04:44
If you could speak to that.
1:04:45
We'd also like to know given the drastic rises and falls, if there's gonna be any impact on services and programs.
1:04:57
And certainly, let me just check.
1:05:00
And we'd like to know specifically what the DYCD IOI's programs, the funding covers.
1:05:10
What programs the funding covers.
Keith Howard
1:05:11
We're definitely gonna have to get back to you because that program is not familiar to us.
1:05:18
We think that's the Commissioner Castro's program.
1:05:23
But we can get back to you to to to definitely tell you whether or not we have any sort of relationship with that with that program.
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