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Q&A
Council Member Brannan questions Commissioner Park on DSS budgeting practices
0:37:54
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157 sec
Council Member Justin L. Brannan questions Commissioner Molly Wasow Park about the Department of Social Services' (DSS) budgeting practices, focusing on the historical under budgeting of major entitlement programs. Commissioner Park explains the challenges in projecting budgets for large programs and the agency's efforts to address these issues in collaboration with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
- Discussed programs include cash assistance, city FHEPS, non-asylum seeker shelter costs, and HASA housing
- Commissioner Park acknowledges occasional short-term cash flow issues but emphasizes close work with OMB to manage budgets
- The FY 2026 budget addresses some ongoing challenges, including the HASA budget and community food connection
Justin L. Brannan
0:37:54
Okay, I want to talk a bit about under budgeting.
0:37:58
In the past several years, DSS has under budgeted major entitlement programs funded through DHS and HRA.
0:38:06
So there's often been a considerable misalignment between adopted budgets and actual year end expenditures.
0:38:14
Programs like cash assistance, city FEPs, the non asylum seeker shelter cost, and HASA housing have been historically under budgeted at adoption with increments of funding added throughout the fiscal year.
0:38:26
So in the current fiscal year the budgeted amounts for all these programs have seen dramatic increases between the adopted and the following executive plans.
0:38:35
So can you explain how DSS projects the level of need for these programs and how are actual expenditures for the prior fiscal year factored into this analysis and budgeting practices?
Molly Wasow Park
0:38:51
Thank you, Councilmember.
0:38:52
So let me start by saying that the FY twenty six budget was very helpful in addressing some of the ongoing challenges and some of those initiatives that you mentioned.
0:39:04
So in exec we addressed the HASA budget.
0:39:09
We addressed community food connection, filled in a number of the things that have traditionally been adoption ads, and so I'm very pleased that we were able, that the administration was able to do that.
0:39:22
Overall, it was a very good budget for us.
0:39:26
There are, as you note, significant issues to resolve with both shelter, SNAP sorry, cash assistance and rental assistance.
0:39:36
Those are large programs that are challenging to project because utilization can vary, costs of services can vary, and we work very closely with OMB to adjust funding on an as needed basis.
Justin L. Brannan
0:39:49
So will DSS be increasing the baseline budget for FY '26?
Molly Wasow Park
0:39:54
We are certainly working closely with our partners at OMB to manage the budget for those three critical programs.
Justin L. Brannan
0:40:01
Has underbudgeting ever impacted the agency's ability to administer these vital support programs?
Molly Wasow Park
0:40:08
There are very occasionally some short term glitches in cash flow, but these are very short lived, and we work closely to OMB to manage that.
Justin L. Brannan
0:40:19
And is there discussion around reforming DSS to reform their projection techniques to more accurately reflect?
Molly Wasow Park
0:40:27
We work very closely with OMB to make sure that the budget is is as needed.