CAPITAL PROGRAM
Contact: Mark Scott
718 286 2826
mscott@queensbp.org
The New York City Charter mandates
that each Borough President receive a capital allotment
based upon a formula incorporating land mass, population
and the City’s total capital budget.
Commencing
in the early part of March, the Borough President’s
first part of her Capital Discretionary program will
begin, as per section 211 of the New York City Charter.
After the Mayor’s Executive Budget is released, sometime
in early April, the Borough President will initiate
the second part of her allocation process, as per section
249 of the Charter. The Executive process of the Capital
budget, or the 249 process, is the allocated difference
from the 211 process.
The City Council then deliberates
on the budget in May/June and the new budget year begins
on July 1.
Any City agency is eligible to
receive capital dollars. Other applicants must be community-based,
not-for-profit groups or organizations with documented
tax-exempt status pursuant to Section 501(c)(3).
In order for a project to be
considered for capital funding, it must meet the following
basic standards set forth in the New York City Comptroller’s Directive 10, “Charges to the Capital
Projects Fund”.
- Capital Construction for non-city
owned property improvements must meet a $500,000
threshold – for non-profit building – restorations
and renovations. In addition, the City has the first
right-of-lien on the property if the space is leased,
the landlord must be willing to sign this agreement.
- All projects must be tangible property with a multi-year
life.
- The minimum on all equipment purchases and other
capital purchases is $35,000
- The expected useful-life of the equipment must have
a 5-year or greater life span (i.e. computers)
- All computer proposals must be purchased as part
of a networked system.
- The purchase of furniture and fixtures is only eligible
if it is for initial outfitting.
In Fiscal Year 2008, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was initiated between the New York City Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Finance Division of the New York City Council. Over recent fiscal years, the number of appropriations of City Capital funds to outside organizations for projects involving real property, neither owned nor leased by the City, and personal property that is in real property, neither owned or leased by the City has increased. There now exists a substantial backlog of pending Non-City Capital Projects that, despite the best efforts of both City agencies and recipient organizations, have not been implemented due to legal and other issues. Subsequently, the aforementioned agencies have agreed in Fiscal Year 2008, that no new non-city Capital Projects will be added to the City’s Capital Budget. Additionally, a Non-City Task Capital Projects Task Force has been established and charged with completing a review of all pending non-city Capital Projects; implementation of pending non-city projects for which funding has not been rescinded; and the creation of guidelines and a process for the review and future inclusion of projects in the Capital Budget beginning in Fiscal Year 2009.
Please review these pages, and contact
us if we can be of further assistance. |
