Human Service providers and advocates had mixed emotions for the Mayor's announcement yesterday of planned budget cuts and tax increases to address the City's growing fiscal crisis.

"I am pleased to see that the Mayor has proposed an increase in revenue through targeted taxes," said Nancy Wackstein, Executive Director of United Neighborhood Houses and Chair of the Human Services Council of New York City. "This will hopefully prevent New York's poorest from shouldering the burden of the City's financial crisis. However, some of these proposed budget cuts, especially to services for the vulnerable elderly and youth, will hurt New York's most fragile communities - the very people who are already suffering the most from the City's economic downturn."

The Mayor's plan to restore a 7% increase in property taxes six months ahead of schedule and offer additional tax alternatives - including a possible increase in personal income taxes - for consideration in next year's budget comes in sharp contrast to Governor David Paterson's approach at the state level. Yesterday, the Governor repeatedly reiterated his opposition to any tax increases during a town hall style meeting in White Plains. The Governor's current plan would call for a near 25% reduction in State spending by next fiscal year.

At the same time, however, advocates expressed concern over the impact of cuts included in the Mayor's plans. They noted that a number of program services - particularly for the elderly - were being completely eliminated. Among those targeted were Elder Abuse Prevention ($850,000), Social Adult Day Care ($2.4 million); Intergenerational Programs ($1 million).

"These are unique and valuable programs that have preserved the safety of many frail elderly in the City," said Aileen Gitleson, CEO at Jewish Association for Services for the Aged (JASA), which operates five of the nine Elder Abuse Prevention programs scheduled to be eliminated.

Advocates and providers are still clarifying the impact of these and other cuts included in the Mayor's Plan.