Refund NYC Public Schools Resolution Unanimously Passes City Council

NEW YORK CITY —A resolution that pressures Mayor Eric Adams to reverse a $469 million cut to the school budget passed City Council with an unanimous vote Tuesday morning.

Applause broke out in City Council chambers upon the passage, at 41-0, of Resolution 0283-2022, which would redirect leftover stimulus money into the Education department budget.

"The council is making it clear today, with this resolution, that school budgets should be fully restored," said Adrienne Adams, council speaker and the bill's sponsor. "Much more accountability is required."

The legislation is non-binding and calls for a reversal of a budget the council voted to approve earlier this summer. Lawmakers have since said they were misled.

Mayor Eric Adams did not mention the controversial cut to the budget at a state finance meeting Tuesday — during which State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli warned the city could face a $9.9 billion budget gap in 2026 — but did address the city's broader financial concerns.

“We have to be clear,” Mayor Adams said. "We are entering uncertain waters.”

Education Chair Rita Joseph said at a committee meeting Tuesday that the mayor's office has tried and failed to compromise on an education budget.

"The administration has met with us to negotiate restoring funds to schools," Joseph said. "But we have been unable to reach an agreement thus far.

At the state meeting, City Comptroller Brad Lander — who last month suggested redirecting stimulus into schools — told Gov. Kathy Hochul Tuesday the added cash would not fix long-standing finance problems within the department.

Said Lander, “In the long run we need to make a plan for a public school system that balances city and state resources, student needs and education goals.”

City Council's vote comes two days before the first day of classes for more than 1 million public school students.

Council members warned public school students budget cuts will mean larger classroom sizes with fewer art, athletic, language, mental health and after-school programs for students.

"We're going to see...essential cuts to our schools that we simply cannot afford," said City Council Lincoln Restler. "They make no sense because the mayor has the resources at his disposal.

The cuts also come after city kids faced an unprecedented academic challenge in remote learning spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Said City Council Member Shahana Hanif, "Now is not the time to be asking our schools to be doing more with less."

Patch writer Matt Troutman contributed to this report.