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Date: 6/26/2023
SPRINGFIELD — The fiscal year 2024 general fund budget — presented by Mayor Domenic Sarno during a June 20 special meeting of the City Council — was approved by a 11-2 vote.
Councilors at Large Tracye Whitfield and Justin Hurst were the two who voted against it.
The nearly four-hour meeting began with Sarno providing an overview of the budget, but first, he thanked the councilors, finance team and cabinet and department heads, among several others, for their work.
Sarno noted that this is the ninth consecutive budget that has been balanced without the use of reserves.
He said the budget is about $878 million — two-thirds of which is on the school side — about a 7.82% increase. There was also a 9.7% increase in Chapter 70A which goes to the school department, Sarno shared.
Overall, he said the budget increased by about $5.8 million. “[The] majority of that came to labored contracts which had been resolved, which the council has voted on,” Sarno added.
He noted that there have not been any layoffs and all services stay in effect.
“We have a healthy rainy-day fund of over $50 million,” Sarno said.
He went on to say that for 15 consecutive years, the Budget Department received the Distinguished Budget Award and for 11 years in a row, the Certificate of Excellence.
“I understand that there’s hardships that we’re all facing in our residence, but there also is a thread of illuming recession, so we have to be cognizant and I’m [going to] continue to keep my priorities in public safety, public education, economic development, healthy neighborhoods and community services,”
Sarno said. “And we want to continue to produce a budget that maintains all the core services with the personnel.”
Sarno said some of the “good things” they bought with this budget was the expansion of hours at East Forest Park Library, on which he worked closely with Ward 7 City Councilor Tim Allen. He also recognized Ward 4 City Councilor Malo Brown for his assistance in expanding the hours of the Mason Square Library.
Other improvements with the FY24 budget are increased funding for the Health Department, emergency communications dispatch, anti-litter campaign and the Roca Clean Sweep Initiative, to name a few.
“Seventeen new preschool classrooms are [going to] be added to our schools,” Sarno said. “We are the first to have full, free day comprehensive preschool in the commonwealth of Massachusetts.”
Sarno went on to further explain that about $588 million of the FY24 budget is on the school side and $290 million is on the city side. All those reserves — nearly $50.5 million — had been built on the city side, he explained. “When you look at the overall budget, that’s a tremendous accomplishment,” added Sarno.
Sarno expressed his understanding of the property tax issue and said he will continue with initiatives there.
“You’ve had a booming real estate market, you’ve had an inventory that is very, very low and when those two things mix, prices are [going to] stay high. So, what we’ve done with that, in FY21, I was able to offset the levy by about [$1] million. FY22 [was] about $2.5 million, FY23 — which was unprecedented — $10 million to knock down that levy because of the strong fiscal management we have here in the city of Springfield,” Sarno said.
To remind people of what has been done in working with the City Council, Sarno mentioned 41C — tax abatement with seniors. He said he lifted that from $500 to $1,000 and reduced the eligibility age from 70 to 65 years old to give more seniors an opportunity.
Sarno said that the key word is “sustainability.”
He shared some of his plans moving forward such as improving more roads and sidewalks, along with future initiatives and projects that the city will continue or take on.
Whitfield shared that she “loves” the additional free preschool and library’s extended hours, among other “great items” in the budget. However, one of her questions was about public safety. Whitfield said she wanted to see the budget line items for the Board of Police Commissioners, to which Sarno said it is available in the overall Police and Law Department budgets.
Whitfield also brought up gun violence and the lack of an initiative surrounding it. She said the city needs “more proactive ways” to combat gun violence.
Sarno noted that the city has invested “multitudes of money” into youth proactive development programs.
“You want to decrease gun violence not only in the city of Springfield but across the United States of America, you have to keep these 1 or 2% of repeat violent criminal offenders locked up,” Sarno said. He noted that there were recently major raids where 44 arrests were made on “heavy gun charges.”
“Before we could blink our eyes, 30 were already released,” Sarno said. “We need some accountability and follow up from our court system.”
He continued, “The Springfield Police Department has taken record numbers of illegal guns and ghost guns off the streets, yet you turn around and as quick as they’re arrested, they’re right back on the streets.”
If the repeat offenders are kept off the streets, Sarno said he believes the message will be sent and it will be knocking down crime. “That is the missing link right now,” he added.
Whitfield said there has to be meaningful programs created to change the trajectory. If these instances do involve repeat offenders, she said something is not working and the administration needs to do something. “Those repeat offenders are not the only shooters out there,” she shared.
Ward 8 City Councilor Zaida Govan asked about the property taxes as she has “a lot of constituents” who reach out when the tax bills are released. Of the $7 million relief already set for 2024, she asked how it will provide relief, if any, for property taxes.
Sarno said the $7 million is “just the start.”
Board of Assessors Chair Patrick Greenhalgh said, “It’s complicated,” as they do not know exactly what the tax bill will look like because it is still early in the process.
Ward 6 City Councilor Victor Davila shared that he is “pleased” to see that the pension liabilities will be fully intact and complimented Sarno for his initiatives and suggestions regarding litter in the city.
Davila also mentioned property taxes and said, “I think we can do better. Apparently, you [Sarno] have suggested $5 million less than last year [and] I have to say Mr. Mayor, your train of thought makes sense, but if it was me, I would’ve done it differently because people need the help now.”
Davila said he is taking Sarno’s word on looking at further tax relief, if possible, and looks forward to being a part of those conversations.
Like others, Davila shared his concern with violence in the city of Springfield and asked if the Police Department has the resources they need. Police Superintendent Cheryl Clapprood noted that she does have all the resources she needs for the officers to be out there doing their jobs.
Clapprood said everything she has asked for she has received and has no problem coming before the council if more is needed.
Brown thanked Sarno for his presentation and the positive improvements made to the parks, streets, new schools and more.
Regarding police and crime, Brown asked if there is anything the city or department plans on doing in going back to the substations. Clapprood said, “We would love to man the substations,” however, at this point in time, she does not have the numbers to do it. “Springfield is very much 911-driven and we’re very much a responsive unit,” Clapprood said. “We still go to approximately 350 calls a shift.”
She continued, “Times are tough right now because of retention and recruitment but as the pendulum starts to swing back that may be something we can look at.”
Based on the doors knocked on and people he has talked to, Hurst said the number one and two issues in the city are taxes and crime. “It would seem to me that we would be able to do a bit more than the $7 million [relief],” he said. Hurst asked to consider using the $3 million in the Neighborhood Enhancement Fund and “put that money to good use in the lower resident’s taxes.” If that cannot happen, he suggested using that $3 million to offset the trash fee.
Unlike Davila, Hurst said he cannot take Sarno for his word which is why he will not vote for the budget as is, without significant commitments to utilize additional funding to help those struggling right now.
Before reaching the 10 p.m. cutoff time, Allen acknowledged the “good discussion” that took place and made a motion to move to a vote on the budget. The motion was approved by all councilors aside from City Council President Jesse Lederman.
Ultimately, the FY24 budget was adopted.