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The FY-17 city budget has come under close scrutiny by the Board of Alderman this past week.
By Jim Clark
The Finance Committee of the Somerville Board of Alderman, Committee of the Whole, is wrapping up more than a week’s worth of intensive discussion and debate over the city’s Fiscal Year 2017 budget.
The Committee convened four times last week for FY-17 departmental budget review as well as any and all associated departmental financial matters.
On Monday, June 13, the Committee addressed budgetary matters concerning Health and Human Services, Veterans, Council on Aging, SomerPromise and Library departments.
On Tuesday, June 14, the budgets for the departments of Finance (including Auditing, Treasury, Assessing, Purchasing, Grants, and CPA), Law and Personnel were considered for review.
On Wednesday, June 15, the Police (including E-911 and Animal Control), Fire (including Fire Alarm and Emergency Management), Traffic & Parking, Information Technology, Communications, 311 and Telco budgets were examined.
On Thursday, June 16, budgets for Capital Planning, Engineering, DPW (including Administration, Building and Grounds, Sanitation and Highway), Water & Sewer and Inspectional Services went under review.
For this week, the Monday, June 20 meeting covered OSPCD (Administration, Planning and Zoning, Housing, Economic Development and Transportation and Infrastructure), Recreation and Revolving Funds underwent the same budgetary review similar to last week’s activity.
The Committee held a public meeting on Tuesday, June 21, where members of the public could attend and be heard. A number of Administrative Orders relative to various department budgeting were also dealt with by the Committee.
The meeting process concludes on Wednesday, June 22, as final review and cuts are expected to be resolved.
Videos of each of the meetings being held can be found on the city’s website at http://www.somervillema.gov/departments/finance, along with copies of the budget available for downloading.
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While this is all important, I think we would all like to know the targeted change in property value assessments and proposed tax rates.
I think they’ll hold off on letting us know the changes until the last minute because they know there will be an uproar.
They also need time to come up with an excuse as to why this is a good thing for all of us.
Fits right in with all the talk about all the new revenue we are bringing in. Some things just never change. Me thinks we need someone who is more expert at budgeting money.