* WARNING: THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL, INTRODUCTORY COPY OF THE BILL.
THE OFFICIAL COPY CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE FIRST READER COPY.
INTRODUCTORY*
CITY OF BALTIMORE
COUNCIL BILL R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: Councilmember Clarke
A RESOLUTION ENTITLED
A COUNCIL RESOLUTION concerning
Title
Opportunity Budget - Next Phase Is Agency Status
FOR the purpose of requesting the Baltimore City Council to support the inclusion of a Youth Opportunity Budget within the Finance Department's Recommendations to the Board of Estimates and as a crucial component of the Board of Estimates' recommendations to the Baltimore City Council for approval in the fiscal year 2009 operational budget of the City of Baltimore.
Body
WHEREAS, Throughout the past 3 years of Baltimore City surpluses, City government has established and funded a network of school and community-based programs to keep our children safe and successful, thanks in large part to our Mayor in her advocacy when she served as City Council President and to our current City Council President whose service on the Council included being the Chair of the Budget and Appropriations Committee and a youth advocate; and
WHEREAS, In a down-turning economy, youth programs can no longer stand on the outskirts of Baltimore City's budget priorities, waiting in vain for surplus funding no longer available; and
WHEREAS, Baltimore City's Youth Opportunity Budget is zero-based, requesting the same level of City funding and the same "count" of children served as in the current fiscal year 2008 budget, including supplementary appropriations; and
WHEREAS, The youth of our City do require and rely on the basic supports of the Opportunity Budget, including community-and-school-based after school programs, A-Teams, and other relevant supports to youth safety and success; and
WHEREAS, This Council has approved and further urges the addition of fiscal year 2009 funding for the Experience Corps, which the City has supported for the past three years, and of the Peer-to-Peer Enterprise Program; and
WHEREAS, When resources are diminished, the needs of our City's children increase and must, in fairness and justice, take priority.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE, That this Body supports the inclusion of a Youth Opportunity Budget within the Finance Department's Recommendations to the Board of Estimates and as a crucial component of the Board of Estimates' recommendations to the Baltimore City Council for approval in the fiscal year 2009 operational budget of the City of Baltimore.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this Body requests and urges the reordering of the City's fiscal resources to support, as line item budget contributions, the full funding of the zero-based City's Youth Opportunity Budget for fiscal year 2009, including the funding of the Experience Corps and the Peer-to-Peer Enterprise Program
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Mayor, the Board of Estimates, the Department of Finance, and the Mayor's Legislative Liaison to the Council.
dlr08-0196~intro/13Mar08
ccres/OppBudg:af
dlr08-0196~intro/13Mar08
- 2 -
ccres/OppBudg:af