Community Board 11 members contest FY25 submission process; matter slated for next meeting

Several Community Board 11 members raised procedural objections on Jan. 14 about the FY25 budget submission process, contending that the submission to city planners was prepared without adequate full-board notice or approval and requesting that the matter be reviewed at the next meeting.

A committee speaker objected that last year’s FY25 submission had been "done behind closed doors" and urged the budget committee to refer the issue to the full board for review. The speaker said the submission "was done with just a few people" and not the full board. Another attendee noted the Bronx borough president had stated that committees should not finalize submissions without full-board approval. Other board members countered that the topic had been discussed in multiple meetings and asked to move on.

Why it matters: Community board processes set expectations for transparency and member participation in drafting district budgets and narratives. Several members said they wanted clarity about whether the FY25 submission followed board rules and asked staff to schedule the matter for fuller review.

Outcome and next steps

- Referral to next meeting: Committee members concluded the procedural concern should be placed on the next meeting agenda for discussion and possible action; no formal vote was recorded at the Jan. 14 session.

- Record and follow-up: Board staff and committee chairs were asked to ensure the submission process is reviewed and that members receive documentation showing how prior submissions were prepared.

Ending: The committee recorded objections and agreed to add the FY25-submission process to the next agenda so the full board can review the record and decide whether further steps are needed.