Sarno to unveil what budget cuts mean to Springfield

Date: 2/2/2009

By G. Michael Dobbs

Managing Editor



SPRINGFIELD Mayor Domenic Sarno will reveal details on how his administration will react to Gov. Deval Patrick's mid-year budget cut announcement at a City Council meeting Feb. 2 and a Finance Control Board meeting Feb. 3.

Sarno said in a press conference on Thursday that he will not use any of the city's stabilization or "rainy day" funds to bridge the gap that will be created by the cut of $4,591,318 in state funds for the current fiscal year. He said the economic crisis facing the state will probably extend into the next two budget years and those reserve funds must be held for use during those times.

"You can't delay the inevitable," he said. "We're going to need those reserves in FY10 and FY11."

Patrick's FY10 budget reduces the amount of state aid to Springfield by $13.45 million and levelly funds the city's schools.

In reaction, Sarno said that he would reduce the city's expenses by $4.6 million through recurring costs, which includes not filling some 67 vacant city jobs.

He repeated that public safety is his administration's number one priority and that no police officers or fire fighters would be laid off. Sarno said he is trying to avoid the more than 300 layoffs that occurred in 2003 when Gov. Mitt Romney cut that budget in the middle of the year.

Acknowledging this is an election year and that he would be running for re-election, Sarno said, "I have not tried to play politics [with this issue.]" He characterized his efforts to reach solutions as "methodical and sensitive."

He said that his goal is to keep the level of layoffs in the "double digits."

"Politically for me it would be - and this is going to show my leadership easier to say I'm using reserves," he said.

Sarno would not pledge his support at this time for Patrick's proposal to close a tax loophole for the telecommunications industry that would bring new revenue to cities and towns. He said the idea "needs to be pursued." He also wants the governor's proposal to allow municipalities the option of imposing their own meal and hotel room tax increases to be "sensitively examined" in light of what neighboring communities would do.

In a letter Sarno sent city employees late Wednesday afternoon, he wrote, "I am sensitive to the stress and sense of anxiety that such uncertainties create. More definitive answers are expected in the coming weeks. Also, please know the City of Springfield will remain a resource as to what support options will be made available to those of you who may face a layoff.

"I wish I had better news for all of you. But I don't. I want to be upfront with you. We are not going to raise white flag of surrender, but we will get through this tough time together with sacrifice."