Budget Info
Alert: November 2002

ONE-MINUTE SUMMARY:
Timeline of City Budget Cuts to Education and the NYC DOE's Internal Savings Plans

JULY 1 (FY 02-03 CITY BUDGET ADOPTED):
Of the $404 million cuts during the 01-02 school year, $290 are reoccurring.
In order to deal with a shortfall in Department of Education funding to cover basic operations, an internal Savings Plan of $102 million is adopted, which includes not filling some positions in repair crews, more efficiencies in contracting, not serving food at Open School nights, raising fees for job applicants for teaching positions, etc. An additional internal Savings Plan of $18 million is created to cover additional costs of the Teaching Fellows program.

Bottom Line:
$290 million in reoccurring cuts
$120 million in internal Savings Plans to cover shortfall

NOVEMBER 14 (FY 02-03 NOVEMBER PLAN):
In July, the Mayor asks all agencies to reduce their budgets by 7.5%. The target for the Department of Education is set at $379 million. By September, the DOE adopts a plan for $100 million in immediate cuts to meet this target.
In October, the plan for immediate cuts is increased by an additional $50 million and the overall agency target is raised by $18 million.
By November 14, the Mayor's November Plan for immediate cuts is increased by another $50 million. The plan includes reductions in central administration, additional savings from more efficient purchasing, reductions to school districts (with no cuts to the classroom), additional reductions in district and high school administration, savings from the reduction of Division for School Facilities staff, reductions in the Teacher Mentor program and the elimination of summer camp. The Mayor then announces at his press conference that the City Council will review the overall November Plan as well as the specific list of agency cuts for their input.

Bottom Line:
$200 million in immediate cuts by DOE for the 2002-03 school year out of an overall target of $397 million.
$397 million overall reduction target for agency for FY 03 (and also FY 04).
P.S. Several people have asked us about the 11/13/02 New York Times story on proposed cuts to education. We do not understand how the reporters arrived at their numbers.