Preliminary reports on the city budget passed Tuesday night suggest good news for programs under the UJA-Federation network after the City Council restored $213 million in spending that had been cut by Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
The restored funding, an annual ritual between the mayor and Council, will provide more day-care slots and improved mental health programs at federation agencies that contract with the city, said Ron Soloway, the organization’s top lobbyist.
"We are very pleased that a lot of programs funded in past years are going to continue," said Soloway. Without the funds, he said, some of the programs would be forced to close.
The budget also expands centrally located services to seniors living in naturally occurring retirement communities, or NORCs. More money will go as well to legal and language assistance for immigrants. But not every item on the wish list was granted.
"We would have liked to see some additional funds to augment services for Nazi victims," Soloway said.
The $50 billion budget uses a $3.6 billion surplus to pay for new spending and cut property and sales taxes.
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