What a difference a year can make. After failing to pass a budget last year, the City Council adopted a budget last night with a few months remaining in the fiscal year. (The current budget year ends June 30).
The $123.8 million budget was approved in a 6-2-1 vote after the council listened to Finance Director Nick Trasente’s explanation and after public comment.
Councilpersons Beth Mason and Peter Cunningham voted against the budget, and Councilwoman Dawn Zimmer abstained. Both Mason and Zimmer are running in the May mayoral election. Councilman Peter Cammarano, who is also running, voted in favor.
The entire council was in agreement that this budget was accurate and the numbers were true, but those who voted it down said they expected more cuts.
The budget included a large tax increase this year, primarily because state-appointed fiscal monitor Judy Tripodi wanted to eliminate a longstanding budget deficit.
Cammarano has said that if the council had voted to accept last year’s budget, Tripodi would not have had to come in, and the city could have tried to solve its fiscal problems without a tax increase. He has blamed his running mates for refusing to pass last year’s budget in time. However, the budget opponents had complained they were not given accurate numbers until the end.
To read more on the budget, the City Council, and Wednesday night’s meeting, check out the story in this weekend’s Reporter, either in print or on this page starting Sunday. Then comment below! — TJC
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