Book it! Mamdani baselines funding in budget for NYC public libraries, but falls short of campaign goal | amNewYork

"The $31.7 million baseline, Hizzoner said, seeks to no longer treat the New York, Queens and Brooklyn Public Libraries as a bargaining chip in annual city budget negotiations that leave the systems' ability to hire staff and operate in limbo. For too long, library funding has been treated like a political bargaining chip and fought over every single year, said Mamdani during a May 15 press conference at the Cortelyou branch of the Brooklyn Public Library. That cycle ends with this budget."

"Libraries are where New Yorkers study, look for work, learn to read, cool off during heatwaves and build community. By baselining this funding, we are giving every branch in every borough the stability to plan ahead, hire staff and serve New Yorkers without wondering if the money will disappear next spring. The baseline funding brings the total funding for all three New York City public library systems to just over a half-billion dollars nearly $530 million, up from the $491.4 million allocated in the preliminary budget."

"The adjusted number represents a little under 0.5% of the $124.5 billion executive budget that Mamdani announced earlier this week. As a candidate for mayor last year, Mamdani pledged to dedicate a full 0.5% of the budget for libraries. Asked about the gap between what he promised and what he allocated, Mamdani expressed confidence that the city could still reach a 0.5% overall budget guarantee for the libraries down the line."

"We want to have a conversation about how to go beyond what the status quo is, the mayor said. This is an incredibly difficult year where we have faced what was, at its beginning, a $12 billion fiscal deficit. And even in that year, we wanted to make sure that we found a way to raise t"

A $31.7 million baseline funding amount ends treating New York, Queens, and Brooklyn Public Libraries as leverage in yearly city budget negotiations. The change aims to prevent library operations and hiring from remaining in limbo when funding is uncertain. Libraries are described as places for studying, job searching, learning to read, cooling off during heatwaves, and building community. Baseline funding brings total funding for the three systems to just over $530 million, up from $491.4 million in the preliminary budget. The adjusted total is nearly 0.5% of a $124.5 billion executive budget. Confidence is expressed that the city can still reach a 0.5% overall budget guarantee for libraries later, even amid a $12 billion fiscal deficit.

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