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New needs and concerns about one-shot funding in the Parks budget
2:51:19
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98 sec
Council Member Krishnan discusses the new needs included in the fiscal 2026 executive budget and expresses concerns about the reliance on temporary 'one-shot' funding for essential positions and programs.
- $18.7 million in new needs, including increased headcount for fleet service and funding for marine debris disposal
- Criticizes the use of temporary funding for critical positions like urban park rangers
- Argues that temporary funding creates job insecurity and is not suitable for running a crucial city agency
Shekar Krishnan
2:51:19
The fiscal twenty twenty six executive budget includes $18,700,000 in new needs for FY '26, '8 point '1 million other adjustments, and thankfully no pegs or cuts.
2:51:30
But again, we should not be in a world where we are thinking about cuts and restoring cuts.
2:51:34
We have to be in a world of investments.
2:51:37
There are several new needs in this plan including increased headcount for fleet service, baseline funding for the Office of Marine Debris Disposal, and vessel surrendering, and a number of one shots or temporary funding for urban park rangers, green thumb, and tree stump removal.
2:51:51
But this is a far cry from the permanent comprehensive funding and vision that our city council laid out in our budget response.
2:51:59
I mentioned earlier that this budget includes 18,700,000.0 in new needs, but the number is largely made up of temporary so called one shot positions.
2:52:10
One shots are items or programs that are only funded for one year, which means that once the fiscal year is over, the program will be cut if additional funding is provided.
2:52:21
In other words, once that year is up, the workers who are funded on those lines are in danger of losing their jobs.
2:52:30
These are workers that do not just work for a year, they work every year, every day cleaning our parks and keeping them safe.
2:52:37
I know that because I've talked to them.
2:52:40
I've spent time with them.
2:52:41
I have heard their stories and their concerns when their jobs are in jeopardy every year.
2:52:46
You cannot run an organization.
2:52:48
You cannot run a company on temporary lines that expire every year for permanent work.
2:52:52
And you certainly cannot run a crucial city agency like the Parks Department in this way.