Jacobs' Budget Forum Highlights Ways to Spend State Funds

Assemblywoman Rhoda Jacobs, D-Ditmas Park, hosted a public budget forum Mon., Sept. 10 to brainstorm on how to spend state funds alotted to the community and to explain how to secure those funds.

"I though we would try it this way," Jacobs said of the constituent participatory budget forum.

Jacobs said that groups that she works with know to approach her office if they need help or assistance in funding a project, but many groups are unaware that they have this funding as a possible option. "I though we would try to expand the audience," she said. 

John Magisano, principal in John Magisano Consulting, was also on hand to help educate the community in the types of funds available and to explain what projects are eligible for such funds. 

"I'm here to help organize the process of finding places to put these funds into the community that can be as fruitful as possible," he said. "In times like these you must find ways to use this money quickly or the State will take it away."

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There is $400,000 available in multi modal funding, which covers the construction, reconstruction, improvement, reconditioning or preservation of roads, railways, ports, ferries and airports. Multi Modal projects must be for a public purpose. 

There is $1M available in capital funding, which covers any project involving the acquisition, construction, demolition or replacement of a fixed asset or assets, meaning a physical thing. Jacobs noted that examples of past projects that have been funded with capital funds include smart boards and computer repairs in schools. 

All projects will also go through a vetting process by the state agency allotting the funds, such as the DOE, MTA, DOT, etc. 

Capital funding requests can be a minimum of $50,000, and a maximum of $250,000. Multi Modal do not have the same sort of budget limits, Magisano noted, saying that requests for those funds can be less than $50,000. 

Meeting attendees mentioned a wide array of projects they would like to see funded, including: air conditioners in the P.S. 152 Annex; traffic lights for or a traffic study of dangerous intersections in the area; the installation of trees in the walk way from Avenue H to Brooklyn College; the mending of fencing at Newkirk Plaza; solar powered trash bins on the neighborhood's main roads; capital improvements in domestic violence shelters; and computers for senior citizens programs. 

Interested parties should write proposals for their projects, which should be 2-3 pages long that describe the project, give a justification for the project, provide the total estimated budget and the amount requested. Magisano noted that the amount requested and the total budget might be the same amount, but explained that in some cases, a project might require more money than requested. In that case, organizations requesting the funds will have to show how they plan on securing the remaining amount needed to complete the project. 

These project funding request forms should be sent to Jacobs' office by Fri, Sept. 28 at 2 p.m. Forms can be dropped off in person or mailed to Rhoda Jacobs, 2294 Nostrand Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y., 11210.