* 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 Holton
A RESOLUTION ENTITLED
A COUNCIL RESOLUTION concerning
title
Informational Hearing - Constant Funding - Baltimore City YouthWorks
FOR the purpose of requesting the Director of Finance and the Director of the Mayor's Office of Employment Development to jointly determine a satisfactory level of basic sustainable Baltimore City funding for the YouthWorks program; asking the Director of Finance to identify funds in the Baltimore City budget to provide that constant level of funding in FY 2012 and beyond for Baltimore City YouthWorks as a reliable base upon which the summer jobs program can build its budget comprising public, private, and philanthropic donations; and urging the Administration to ensure that the funding provided herein does not diminish an overall increase in a fiscal commitment to opportunities for Baltimore City's youth.
body
Recitals
Baltimore Summer Job Program Launches Careers, The U.S. Mayor Newspaper, October 4, 2010, proclaims: "Local Leadership Leads to Long Standing Success: For more than 30 years Baltimore has successfully operated its annual summer jobs program even when stand alone federal funds ceased to exist. With support from individual donors, business and philanthropic contributors, and local, state, and federal government, youth from all over the city work in summer jobs each year. And 2010 was no exception, even in a sluggish economy."
The official publication of the U.S. Conference of Mayors lauds Baltimore's success in 2010, in being able to fund YouthWorks at the same level as the previous year with, in part, the support of the Baltimore City Congressional Delegation. The Delegation secured a Department of Labor grant which was used to create the Baltimore Career Corps project, providing YouthWorks summer jobs in high growth industries at more than 20 work sites.
The support secured by the Congressional Delegation is but one example of the many sources YouthWorks officials rely on to support this very successful program that provides Baltimore City's youth and young adults, ages 14 - 21, the opportunity to "develop the essential work skills that today's employees require, and many will discover their true career interests during the summer of 2011. YouthWorks provides well-prepared, multi-skilled, and dependable high school and college students who are eager to work. While the program benefits youth by allowing them to explore careers and better understand the value of education, it also enriches businesses by giving them access to a talented and energetic labor pool of motivated workers".
The Mayor's Office of Employment Development officials report as recent funding patterns for the program:
· DSS/DHR provides $1 million each year as its annual contribution to support the wages of TANF recipients and youth in Foster Care.
· This year for the first time, Governor O'Malley allocated $1.13 million for YouthWorks from the State's supplemental budget.
· Donation amounts from the Baltimore City Foundation fluctuate, but average $500,000 per year.
· Over the past four years, 67 private sector employers have contributed multiple times to the Youth Works campaign. 18 private-sector employers contributed to the YouthWorks campaign for at least 3 years, and 14 private sector employers have made contributions in all four years. Contributions by these employers range from $100 per year to top level contributors of $30,000 or more per year. Of those employers who contributed for 3 or 4 years, the average contribution has dropped from almost $9,000 in 2008 to $5,000 in 2011.
The current Mayor's recognition of the invaluable contributions of YouthWorks' employees echoes the accolades voiced by Mayors and other community leaders throughout the decades of the programs existence: "YouthWorks is so beneficial to all of our City's residents, employers and visitors. Thousands of teens and young adults are linked to meaningful summer jobs where they develop valuable workplace skills and help our employers and communities prosper."
While City officials, past and present, recognize the value of YouthWorks to residents, employers, visitors, and, most importantly, our youth, City contributions have not consistently reflected that appreciation:
· 2002 (first year the YouthWorks program got money from the City): $800,000
· 2003: $1 million
· 2004: $1 million
· 2005: $2.25 million
· 2006: $2.3 million
· 2007: $2.3 million
· 2008: $2.4 million
· 2009: $1.6 million*
· 2010: $1.6 million*
· 2011: $1.6 million
*In 2009, YouthWorks received a significant amount of federal funding through ARRA ($3.6 million), which was used to fund YouthWorks in both 2009 and 2010. Because of the infusion of federal money, the City scaled back it's contribution from $2.4 million to $1.6 million.
In order to effectively support a program from which Baltimore City so richly benefits, it is imperative to provide a constant level of basic funding upon which YouthWorks can rely each year.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE, That the Director of Finance and the Director of the Mayor's Office of Employment Development are requested to jointly determine a satisfactory level of basic sustainable Baltimore City funding for the YouthWorks program; asking the Director of Finance to identify funds in the Baltimore City budget to provide that constant level of funding in FY 2012 and beyond for Baltimore City YouthWorks as a reliable base upon which the summer jobs program can build its budget comprising public, private, and philanthropic donations; and urging the Administration to ensure that the funding provided herein does not diminish an overall increase in a fiscal commitment to opportunities for Baltimore City's youth.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the constant level of funding is a minimum contribution that can be increased as the Ordinance of Estimates allows.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Mayor, the Director of Finance, the Director of the Mayor's Office of Employment Development, and the Mayor's Legislative Liaison to the City Council.
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