The Borough Board’s report begins with a look at the state of Queens’ cultural institutions following Sept. 11 and what they may have to face in Fiscal Year (FY) 2003, which begins in July 2002.

The Department of Cultural Affairs Fiscal Year 2003 Premilinary Budget is in for a $19.127 million cut, according to the Queens Borough Board.

Black Spectrum Theatre is just one of Southeast Queens cultural institution bracing for large budget cuts. PRESS Photo By Ira Cohen

The report stated, “Current funding levels for Queens cultural institutions and programs must be preserved in Fiscal Year 2003.” The report also called for the elimination of the Cultural Challenge Initiative, of which “Queens institutions and programs receive only 6.9 percent of the total funds” which will mean $5 million in savings for the City.

If the Deparment of Cultural Affairs allocates the reductions evenly to all institutions, the cut will mean almost $2 million less for eight Queens institutions funded by the Department. Among those institutions is the Jamaica Center for Arts & Learning, which would face a $153,371 cut that it projects would mean “the elimination of at least two staff positions and a significant reductions in community programming.” Fiscal Year 2002 reduction have already meant a one-third reductions in JCAL’s funds for instructor fees and staff salaries ($106,398 cut).

The Borough Board report also projected that the 15 percent budget reduction to cultural institutions and the Arts Development Fund would mean the follow dollar amounts for Southeast Queens cultural institutions and institutions that serve the cultural interests of Southeast Queens:

Afrikan Poetry Theatre: $5,445 cut
Aims of Modzawe: $5,178 cut
Black American Heritage Foundation: $350
Black Spectrum Theatre: $44,821 cut
Harlem Boys Choir: $625
King Manor: $56,090 cut
Langston Hughes Community Library and Cultural Center:
$2,854 cut
Laurelton Theatre: $486
Louis Armstrong House: $2,854
Southern Queens Parks Assoc.: $14, 258 cut

According to the Board’s report, “Fiscal Year 2002’s December Plan reduced library funding by $4.5 million. To absorb this reduction, seven-day service was elminated at 11 branches . . . . The Fiscal Year 2003 Preliminary Budget targets a $10.5 million reduction.”

To make ends meet, the Library is considering doing the following:

* Elimination of 200 full time staff positions

* Reduce service hours from 40 hours to 30

* Only 10 branches will continue to have six day service. The remaining will be open only five days a week.

* The material budget will be reduced by $1 million

* Programs will be cut 50 percent

* The Connecting Libraries and Schools Project (CLASP) will be suspended.

In addition to advising the Mayor once again that Queens is the most over crowded borough in the school system and relief – not cuts — is essential and calling on more state aid, the Borough Board discussed funding for City University of New York (CUNY) schools.

Again the Board said that cuts are simply not appropriate for CUNY schools, and added on their list of priorities for York College the following funding:

* $18,000 for additional library hours

* $150,000 for audience development for York College theaters

* $145,000 for instructional support services through a learning center that will be accessible through computers to York’s primarily working adult student body

* $45,000 for a transfer student recruitment initiative

According to the Borough Board’s report, FY 2003’s Preliminary Budget “represents a $15.4 million reduction from Fiscal Year 2002.” Add to the the loss of Borough Presidents Borough Needs funds, and they project the following reductions:

* Elimination of the After Three Program

* Elimination of the Virtual Y Program

* City Sports Programs: $250,000 cut

* Sports & Arts Foundation: $600,000 cut

* ACS Preventive Money for Beacon Programs: $250,000 cut

The Virtual Y programs are in place at P.S. 15 & 181 in Springfield Gardens, P.S. 95 in Jamaica, P.S. 256 & 197 in Far Rockaway, P.S. 138 in Rosedale, P.S. 124 & 123 in South Ozone Park, P.S. 35 in Hollis as well as in 11 other schools in other areas of Queens.

The Borough Presidents Borough Needs Allocation includes $6,898 to the New York Junior Tennis League, $11, 147 to the Police Athletic League, $8,367 to the South Queens Boys and Girls Club, and $90,433 to the Southern Queens Park Association.

The Borough Board projects that Queens currently stands to lose two senior centers, one in Whitestone and one in Jackson Heights, but that all other centers will absorb a two percent across the board reduction, “which in most cases amounts to $6,000-$8,000.”

The Preliminary Budget eliminates funding to the Neighborhood Preservation Consultants Program, Community Consultant Program, Housing Court Infomormation Services Program, Legal Services and Landlord Training Programs from the City Council. For the Jamaica Housing Improvement Program and the NHS of Jamaica, that means $40,000 a piece.

Budget cuts will tighten funding for the economic organizations of Jamaica, according to the Borough Board report. The Jamaica Chamber stands to loose $140,250 and the Greater Jamaica Development Corp.’s budget cut could be $55,000, according to projects based on the Preliminary Budget.

In addition to itemizing the impact of budget cuts in Queens, the Board’s report also highlighted the top capital budget priorities for each community board of Queens. The priorities for Boads 12 & 13 included:

Community Board 12

* Installation of sidewalks and curbs

* Installation of catch basins