Thursday, June 18, 2020

Home » » Breanna and the Budget

Breanna and the Budget

By  June 18, 2020  

MAYOR LUNGO-KOEHN SUBMITS PROPOSED FY21 BUDGET TO CITY COUNCIL

by Jackie Piques
Anticipating significant cuts to State Aid, City’s proposed budget reflects level-funding from FY20. 
Budget hearing schedule announced by City Council; Hearings begin June 20.

MEDFORD – Today, Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn submitted to the City Council the proposed municipal budget for Fiscal Year 2021. With State Aid allocations still uncertain for the upcoming fiscal year, the City’s proposed budget totals an estimated $184,479,028 and represents a net reduction in operational and personnel expenses for city operations, level-funding for the Medford Public Schools, and an increase in fixed costs.
In an effort to make the budget and budget process as transparent as possible, Mayor Lungo-Koehn also announced that the FY21 budget format has been completely overhauled and includes in-depth analysis of each department, its year-over-year expenditures, and accounting. The proposed budget is available for public review at www.medfordma.org/mayor/city-budget.
Despite economic challenges faced by cities and towns across the Commonwealth due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Mayor Lungo-Koehn noted that the City accomplished several goals to improve city services over the course of FY20, and laid out goals for FY21.
In the second half of FY20 since taking office the Lungo-Koehn Administration achieved several important goals, including creating an online permitting system, expanding the mission of the Office of Human Diversity to strengthen the City’s hiring processes by actively recruiting candidates for staff positions and boards and commissions that represent diversity in culture, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, and race, and developing a Capital Improvement Plan to gain greater understanding of capital needs.
“The core function of municipal government is to provide efficient, high quality services for the community, and despite the significant challenges we’ve faced together as a community in FY20, I am proud of the diligence and commitment of our staff to see our residents and business through these trying times while also making real progress toward more efficient, transparent services,” said Mayor Lungo-Koehn. “As we begin a new fiscal year we know that we will continue to face financial challenges, but remain steadfast in our commitment to doing more with less, and advancing the goals and initiatives that are so important to the future of this City.”
The Mayor’s FY21 budget proposal assumes a ten percent reduction in State Aid to the City of Medford, however with the State Legislature still considering the statewide budget and aid to cities and towns, Mayor Lungo-Koehn noted that the City’s financial team will be prepared to review and amend proposals as necessary to continue to provide essential services.
“This budget was prepared and is proposed with the knowledge and understanding that further conversations and possible adjustments - either additional appropriations or additional reductions - should be expected in the coming weeks and months. The City is prepared to move forward with these additional adjustments if necessary to keep the budget in balance after the release of state aid figures in mid-to-late-July, including personnel salary adjustments, furloughs, and additional layoffs across operations,” the Mayor added.
Among the administration’s goals for FY21, the Mayor announced plans to pursue the following goals:
  • Continued conversations on race, policing, diversity, and equity.
  • Revamping financial management and budgeting systems, increasing efficiencies and integrated systems.
  • Establish a Welcoming Committee in order to support and welcome new residents and businesses to the Medford community.
  • Begin a Comprehensive Planning process.
  • Redesign the SeeClickFix constituent reporting system, website, and robo-call system to better serve residents.
  • Initiate a Charter review process to ensure that the Charter still reflects the Medford that is, and not the Medford that was.
The Medford City Council has set a public hearing schedule to review the proposed FY21 budget. Hearings are scheduled for Saturday, June 20, beginning at 9 a.m., and Monday and Tuesday evenings, June 22 and 23, beginning at 5:30 p.m. Meetings will be held via Zoom. For the full schedule, visit www.medfordma.org/city-council-2.
Medford city services are available to all residents, regardless of economic situation, race, gender, immigration status, ability, benefit eligibility, or religious affiliation.  

Jackie Piques | June 18, 2020 at 2:56 pm | Categories: City Alerts | URL: http://www.medfordma.org/?p=17684