This is an issue of responsible financial stewardship and the appropriateness of fiscal commitments to special interests being mandated in the City Charter. One of the hallmarks of sound fiscal management is maintaining the flexibility to adjust spending to meet our City's ever-changing and unexpected needs, priorities and economic conditions. Any restriction on this flexibility compromises that sound fiscal management and could be viewed negatively by bond rating agencies. Good fiscal stewardship explains why our City was able to more than double spending on after-school programs over the past five years. It also explains why we have embarked on an ambitious plan to enhance recreation centers. Overall, the City will spend $372 million on services for children and youth, including schools, pre-kindergarten, out-of-school time programming, libraries, child health, and more. This is an increase of $14 million, or nearly 4%, over Fiscal Year 2015.