Mayor, City Council Increase
HIV Prevention Budget by $600,000

CHICAGO-Making good on his promise, Mayor Daley offered a budget amendment today to increase funding for HIV prevention services next year by $600,000. The City Council Budget Committee approved the amendment, clearing the way for a final vote on the entire 2004 budget on November 19.

"We commend and thank Mayor Daley and members of City Council for responding to the AIDS crisis in our communities," said Mark Ishaug, executive director of the AIDS Foundation of Chicago. "The need continues to outpace available resources and we will continue to work closely with city officials, Council members, and community leaders to stem the spread of HIV."

Mayor Daley's proposed budget, unveiled in October, included a $100,000 increase for HIV prevention programs. Concerned by the steady decrease in city funding over the past five years, AIDS advocates pressed City Hall to increase the amount to $1 million. Throughout October and November, AIDS advocates organized a call-in campaign to City Council members, picketed at City Hall, leafleted outside a mayoral reception, and testified before the Budget Committee.

The amendment approved by the Budget Committee today adds $500,000 to the original increase of $100,000, bringing the total increase for HIV prevention services to $600,000. The city will draw on its allocation from the federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to finance the new $500,000.

"While we are disappointed that we did not secure the full $1 million requested, the increase is important and will be put to immediate good use," said Ishaug. "Given these difficult economic times, any increase in HIV prevention funding is welcome news that will benefit all of Chicago."

Mayor Daley's Budget Director, William Abolt, told City Council members that the city would continue to work closely with them to identify new sources of funding in the coming year to further increase the HIV prevention budget. He said that three issues, HIV/AIDS prevention, assistance for ex-offenders, and services for at-risk youth, were among the top priorities identified by City Council members during his individual meeting with them about CDBG funding.

AFC thanks Aldermen Thomas Tunney (44th Ward), Ed Smith (28th Ward), and Walter Burnett, Jr. (27th Ward) for leading efforts to secure additional funding, as well as the 36 other City Council members who co-sponsored Tunney's proposed ordinance seeking an additional $1 million for HIV prevention. AFC also thanks the hundreds of AIDS advocates, people living with HIV, and community organizations that helped press City Hall for additional HIV prevention funding.

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Established in 1985 to provide central leadership in the fight against the epidemic, the AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) promotes sound HIV/AIDS public policy, funds HIV/AIDS prevention and care projects, and through its Service Providers Council, helps to coordinate the delivery of essential HIV/AIDS services.

City funding campaign