City Hall Working — Take a Peek and Learn More About the Experiences and Challenges of Running City Government.

Kristyn Reed, executive director of the Veterans Service Agency, details the challenges she is experiencing by trying to modernize her Agency. Director Reed is the sole employee of the city department tasked with providing support services to the men and women that have served our country overseas and at-home. The budget for this Agency has not increased in over 18 years despite the increased level of need from combat veterans returning from wars abroad.

So how is Director Reed addressing this need? By doing what many of Mount Vernon City Hall Commissioners do: apply for federal and state grants in order to supplement their services without adding to taxpayer costs.

So what’s the challenge? Almost every grant available requires that the city contribute something — be it matching funds or staff hours. If the city can’t contribute, Mount Vernon will not get the grant. In fact, Director Reed was recently turned down for a grant from New York State because the grant funders were concerned that, without a staff, the Veterans Service Agency couldn’t fulfill the grant needs.

As we enter budget season, the Thomas Administration will be prioritizing a fiscal plan that provides a blueprint for the future and not a chain to the past. We will be working towards a budget that works for you.