Mayor Bloomberg’s
Proposed CUNY Capital Budget
By Matthew Goldstein, Chancellor, CUNY
We celebrate further
progress in CUNY’s renewal with
the announcement by Mayor Bloomberg of the largest community
college capital construction program in the history of the
University.
Mayor Bloomberg’s
proposed capital budget will infuse more than $157.4 million
in new city funding for new science laboratories, classrooms,
research facilities, student computer laboratories and long
needed renovations and health and safety improvements. This
is in addition to the more than $166 million in reappropriated
City funding for a total of $323.9 million.
These new funds will
be matched by the State total of a $569 million investment
the first large infusion of capital dollars for our community
colleges in more than a decade. The Mayor’s
actions will greatly enhance the learning environment on CUNY
campuses across the City and send a lasting signal of support
as we modernize programs and services.
The Mayor’s initiative, when added to the expanded State
capital budget approved by the New York State Legislature and
the Governor in April, provides $1.983 billion in support for
CUNY’s senior and community colleges throughout all five
boroughs and creates a capital program that will dwarf any
capital program this University has had in its history.
The Mayor’s 2005-06
Executive Budget provides capital funding for Borough of
Manhattan Community College, Bronx Community College, Hostos
Community College, LaGuardia Community College, Kingsborough
Community College, Queensborough Community College and Medgar
Evers College, a senior college that offers both two-year
and four-year programs.
With this support, City and State officials are affirming
the ongoing renewal at CUNY. Enrollment is at its highest level
in thirty years, our colleges are attracting many of the most
academically talented faculty and students, and they are winning
top awards from our two Rhodes Scholars and our Intel Science
winner to our faculty Pulitzer Prize and McArthur Foundation
genius award winners.
We will further leverage this public support with a competitive
matching strategy that will seek private donors and other philanthropic
dollars to further scale up our efforts.
We look forward to working with a most supportive City Council
to achieve a final budget that will enable CUNY to continue
to offer high quality educational programs and services.
My thanks to all who worked so tirelessly to make this historic
capital budget a reality.#
