Conference Executive Director J. Thomas Cochran sent an action alert to mayors on June 30 asking them to contact their congressional delegations and urge them to oppose pending cuts in key city programs. He told the nation’s mayors that he House and Senate are moving quickly to complete action on appropriations bills to fund programs for Fiscal Year 2000. To stay within the budget caps agreed to in the 1997 Balanced Budget Act, the leadership of the appropriations committees is considering significant cuts in Community Development Block Grant and HOME. Further, they have decided to eliminate the COPS program, reduce the Law Enforcement Block Grant by 25 percent and cut Summer Youth Jobs by 20 percent. Also, no action has been taken to reauthorize funding for the Welfare-to-Work program, which is set to expire on September 30.

While the Office of Management and Budget recently estimated there will be a $142.5 billion surplus ($25.2 billion more than the $117.3 billion February estimate) in FY 2000, the appropriations committees continue to push for deep cuts in many key city programs. During the Annual Conference in New Orleans, mayors unanimously adopted a resolution which calls on Congress to revise the Balanced Budget Act in a manner that will ensure adequate funding for priority urban programs and maintain commitment to a balanced budget.

Subcommittee action on many of the appropriations bills has either taken place or has been scheduled for mid-July in both Houses, and full committee action is expected to be completed before the end of July. The following is a list of some of the major cuts which have already been made, and significant projected cuts which could happen in the coming weeks. The following is not intended to serve as an exclusive list of Conference priorities, but rather reflects known or expected major cuts in key programs.

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Face Major Cuts- Both the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees for Veterans Administration, Housing and Urban Development and Independent Agencies are scheduled to consider FY 2000 bills by mid-July. There is a possibility for a substantial cut in both CDBG and HOME as subcommittees in the House and Senate are working with less funds than last year: 8 percent less in the House, and 14 percent less in the Senate. The Administration requested $4.775 billion for CDBG (a $25 million increase over last year’s funding level) and $1.610 billion for HOME (a $10 million increase over last year). The Conference of Mayors and other national organizations are requesting that Congress fund CDBG at $5 billion, with minimal set-asides; and HOME at $1.8 billion. Staff Contact: Eugene Lowe

COPS Program Eliminated in Senate - The Senate Appropriations Committee has voted to eliminate the COPS Program in FY 2000 and shut down the COPS Office. COPS was funded at $1.43 billion last year and President Clinton has proposed $1.275 billion for FY 2000 with significant improvements to the program. Instead of funding the COPS Program, the Senate is proposing to appropriate only $530 million for community-oriented policing activities (school safety officers and crime technology) to be managed by other agencies within the Department of Justice. The nation’s mayors strongly support continuation of the COPS Program with strengthening amendments, and continuation of the COPS Office, which has been the model of program management efficiency. Staff Contact: Ed Somers

Local Law Enforcement Block Grant Cut by 24% - The Senate Appropriations Committee has voted to cut the Local Law Enforcement Block Grant (LLEBG) by 24 percent, from $523 million in FY 1999 to $400 million in FY 2000. In addition, the Administration’s budget request does not contain any funding for the LLEBG, as in previous years, making this program extremely vulnerable to funding reductions. The nation’s mayors have called for an increase in funding for this program. Staff Contact: Ed Somers

Summer Jobs and Training Targeted for 20% Cut -Under the current budget restraints, it has been estimated that approximately 114,000 low-income youth will be eliminated from the summer youth training program next year. In FY 1999, funding was provided to cover approximately 500,000 youth. The White House now estimates that the program can be expected to be reduced by approximately 20 percent under the current House and Senate budget plans. The Administration is supporting full funding for the program, as are the nation’s mayors. Staff Contact: Joan Crigger

Welfare-To-Work Program Threatened - Unless Congress acts this year, continued funding for the Welfare-To-Work program will not be available. In 1997, Congress provided $3 billion for this program over two years. Now, the Administration has proposed to reauthorize the program and provide $750 million in FY 2000, and $250 million in FY 2001. The nation’s mayors are calling for $1 billion in FY 2000, as resolved during the 67^th Annual Conference in New Orleans. Staff Contact: Joan Crigger

Cochran also urged mayors, in contacting their congressional delegations, to remember to reinforce continued support for other key priorities such as adequate funding for brownfields cleanup and redevelopment, local parks, airports, and the Ryan White AIDS program.