Chair Lee Inquires About the Raise the Age Hardship Waiver

Um okay, moving on to raise the age waiver.

Uh at the prelim budget hearing, um, we urged ACS to apply for the state for the hardship waiver because this is money that has been owed to the city, I think, since going back to 2019.

Um, so since the preliminary budget hearing, have you had any conversations with OMB regarding applying for the waiver or pursuing state reimbursement?

Yes, we we have had those conversations.

Um we appreciate the council's commitment and interest in New York City getting the funding from the state that it should get from raise the age.

Back in the day, both Nancy and I advocated for raise the age and for the city to get reimbursement.

And we've had those conversations with OMB.

The decision about whether or not to seek a hardship waiver would not be up to ACS, it would be up to City Hall and O and B.

And the funding for raise the age would be bigger than just ACS.

Right.

So okay, that's kind of leading to my next question, which is are you able to share information regarding how the expenses I know like you just mentioned it's it wouldn't be just with ACS, but um would you be able to share any information regarding where the expenses um would be directed?

So in theory, ACS, um probation, mock J are all agencies and probably a couple others and YPD and law.

Okay.

Okay, and do you know if the mayor's office or if ACS would be able to share any of that information in terms of the funding?

Sure, we shared a chart which I can send to you as part of our response on the to the preliminary budget.

And it's an in-depth chart, so I can send that to you.

Okay, and can you say for the record um just how much you're you estimate the agency has spent on the implementation of raise the age from fiscal 2019 to date, which I'm assuming is quite a bit?

Um yeah, sorry.

Yes, we estimate that um we have spent um going back to FY19, $549 million dollars in expense and $133 million dollars in capital.

Okay, perfect, thank you.

Um, and for at-risk youth funding, um, we had asked at the preliminary budget if there if you had details regarding the 194.5 million in baseline state funding provided, which was part of the total of 300 million added across several agencies that the state had given.

So since the prelim budget hearing, have you received any further guidance or clarification from the state?

We have not, although we're hoping it will be imminent because I believe the governor is probably signing the budget while we're sitting here.

Right.

But it did finally pass legislature last night, so hopefully we'll be able to get more details soon.

Perfect.