2017-2018 TCA Review of City Proposed Budget
June 1, 2017
The total 2017-18 adopted budget for the City of Rochester is $525.6M, 1.3% higher than the 2016-17 amended budget of $518.8M.
Our Reports
The Children’s Agenda analyzes budgets and public policy to ensure public expenditures map to what’s effective and what does the most good.
With no affiliation with or funding from government or children’s services providers, we look at the impact of proposed funding plans on kids and families in the Rochester City School District, Monroe County, New York State, or The City of Rochester. We look out for taxpayers, making sure that expenditures are for evidence-based preventive programs that work.
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2017 Analysis of Monroe County Budget
March 1, 2017
The Children’s Agenda recommends that the County adopt “SAFETY FIRST” and “INVEST EARLY” as 2017 priorities. It should target more resources early in children’s lives to prevent more serious problems and to save money.
2016 Analysis of Monroe County Budget
December 15, 2016
2016 is an important year for Monroe County’s children and youth. 2015 brought remarkable progress in aligning community leadership and resources in pursuit of systemic change that we hope will reverse the persistent and troubling negative trends around child poverty, school success and children’s health.
2016 Healthy Weight Leadership Council Outcomes Report
December 14, 2016
The following ideas were derived from HWLC strategy briefs..
– Community Members advocate for a tax on sugary beverages in Rochester
– Food Pantries and emergency meal programs adopt healthy donation standards
– Child Care settings support all new parents’ decisions to breastfeed
– Restaurants and food courts only provide water or low-fat milk on children’s menus
– Schools eliminate sugary drink offerings at all school-related activities and events
– Child care and early education settings provide children with two to three occasions to play outdoors daily
– Ensure that water be available in
2016 ROC the Future – State of Our Children Report
October 15, 2016
No single entity or organization can create the change necessary to improve outcomes for all children, cradle-to-career. Yet, improvement is possible when communities employ a “collective impact” approach to agree on shared goals; use evidenced-based approaches or best practices to improve; and measure success, together.
2016-2017 TCA Review of City Proposed Budget
June 30, 2016
The total 2016-17 adopted budget for the City of Rochester is $517M, 2.3% higher than the 2015-16 amended budget of $505M. The property tax levy for City taxpayers is $154.2M (up $2.9M from last year) due to an 8% increase in total assessed value of property. The average homeowner will see his/her tax bill decrease by $15.85 per year, and business owners will see their tax bill decrease by an average of $215.22. The City expects sales tax revenue to increase by $1.63M. Refuse and Local Works rates are held steady; Water rates increase by 3%.
The City’s workforce
2016-2017 TCA Review of New York State Budget
April 26, 2016
The enacted FY2017 New York State budget establishes two important policies that will benefit Monroe County’s children and families. Paid family leave and an increased minimum wage will bring needed stability and income to working parents. While The Children’s Agenda (TCA) commends these gains, we are concerned about missed opportunities for children and families in this budget, which we fear will impact negatively on the needs of working families and the long term outcomes of New York’s children.
2015 Report: Out of School Time Opportunities in Rochester
December 19, 2015
In partnership with the Greater Rochester After-School Alliance (GRASA), The Children’s Agenda has completed an inventory of out-of-school time (OST) opportunities in Rochester. This report is an update and expansion on previous inventories of after-school programs in Rochester. Several very recent initiatives in the Rochester area target resources toward common goals of 3rd grade reading competency and overall school success for Rochester students. A growing body of research has shown that time spent outside the classroom – in after-school programs and in summer learning and expanded learning opportunities – can impact efforts to improve the academic and social/emotional competencies of
2015 ROC the Future – State of Our Children Report
October 15, 2015
This report card tracks key measures of well-being for children and youth in the City of Rochester, from cradle to career.
2015-2016 TCA Review of New York State Budget
April 26, 2015
In the FY 2016 Executive Budget, Governor Cuomo proposes creation of the Rochester Anti-Poverty Task Force, a high-level commission formed to address the serious issues of poverty and inequity in the greater Rochester area.
2015 Analysis of Monroe County Budget
December 3, 2014
The Children’s Agenda has conducted an initial review and analysis of the 2015 Proposed Monroe County Budget. We have not yet received requested information from the County which we need to complete our full analysis. This document is a summary of our analysis to date as of December 3, 2014. We offer an overview, commendations, recommendations and concerns below.
The proposed 2015 budget is balanced and keeps intact the property tax rate of $8.99 per $1000 in assessed value, a rate that has been in place since 2008. The Operating Budget totals just over $1 billion and the Grant Budget
2014 ROC the Future – State of Our Children Report
October 14, 2014
Although the ROC the Future collaborative is tracking more than forty measures, the 2014 Report Card grades progress on selected milestones on the cradle to college/career pathway. The indicators were selected by the ROC the Future collaborative action network members, networks made up of volunteer professionals and community members with expertise and experience in areas like school readiness, extended learning, and college preparation. Like all of ROC the Future, the 2014 Report Card supports collective action aimed at improving outcomes for Rochester’s children.
2014-2015 TCA Review of New York State Budget
April 26, 2014
A short description of TCA recommendations for the New York State budget.
2013 ROC the Future – State of Our Children Report
October 15, 2013
Although the ROC the Future collaborative is tracking more than forty measures, the report card provides “grades” for the selected milestones on the cradle to college/career pathway. The indicators were selected by the ROC the Future collaborative action network members, networks made up of volunteer professionals and community members with expertise and experience in areas like school readiness, extended learning, and college preparation. Like all of ROC the Future, the Report Card supports collective action aimed at improving outcomes for Rochester’s children.
2013-2014 TCA Review of City Proposed Budget
June 14, 2013
In this analysis of the proposed 2013-14 City budget, The Children’s Agenda finds that the Mayor proposes a budget for the City of Rochester that spares children and youth any negative impact. Despite needing to close a projected budget gap of $42.7 million, the budget includes new investments in after-school programming and youth employment strategies. These are positive steps toward halting a decade-long decline in overall funding for City programs that directly touch the lives of Rochester’s children. Additionally, we note in this analysis the City’s investment in capital expenditures important for children and youth including play apparatus, parks and