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Date: 6/15/2022
SPRINGFIELD – As a part of the yearly budget process, the City Council underwent extensive budget hearings with various city departments during their May 31 and June 1 meetings.
Fire Department
Fire Commissioner of the Springfield Fire Department B.J. Calvi introduced the department’s budget. Calvi explained that their budget of $25.5 million for fiscal year 2023 (FY23) allows the Fire Department to maintain their staff.
“This $25.5 million funds 287 full-time positions…91 percent of the $25 million is allotted to payroll, so there’s very little outside spending that takes place outside of our payroll account,” said Calvi. The commissioner explained the department operates with 279 firefighters and eight employees who serve as supportive staff.
The other 9 percent of expenses goes toward the maintenance and fueling of fire trucks, replacement of turnout gear and other consumables. Calvi considered the FY23 budget a “good budget” and expressed that the finances will benefit the department’s operation.
“It’s a good budget. It funds all of our core services and we’re able to maintain our high-level of service to the community,” said Calvi. The department responds to an average of 15,000 emergency incidents a year, according to Calvi.
When asked about the department’s growth amidst the coronavirus pandemic, Calvi explained his team is “keeping pace with tradition” as of now. The fire commissioner stressed that the department continues ensuring a full complement of firefighters, including the hiring of 10 new recruits who undergo academy training in September.
The department also operates with a one for one hiring practice for minority candidates and features a 60 percent minority majority amongst its staff.
Police Department
Springfield Police Superintendent Cheryl Clapprood said the Police Department possesses a $51.7 million budget for FY23. The budget includes a fully funded complement of police officers and staff, with roughly $40 million of the budget allocated toward 598 employees. Of the employees, 512 are sworn-in police officers while the remaining 86 employees serve in supportive roles.
Clapprood explained that the department is undergoing challenges in keeping an extensive roster of employees in supportive and police officer roles. Currently, the department is trying to replace 28 vacancies.
“We did lose some civilian positions…The problem of filling civilian positions is we don’t hold a candle to some of the positions that are available in the private sectors when we’re looking for clerks, secretaries or some of our body-worn camera [technicians],” said Clapprood.
Clapprood continued “[Officers] are leaving here quicker than what the retirement would justify…the issues I have are the stigmatisms of the police work, the dangerousness of police work, what the profession is going through now…there’s a lot of issues to why police officers are leaving quicker.”
Other expenses of the department include equipment and training. Clapprood said the department replaces defibrillators, ballistic vests, TASERs, portable radios and computer technology on a regular basis. She also highlighted some of the department’s latest training initiatives, including courses on deescalating situations, firearms and the use of force and risk mitigation training.
Clapprood said the department continues implementing changes to fit the recently established Department of Justice settlement agreement. The Police Department also is working to boost morale for officers, including a new gym inside the department’s headquarters, as well as the development of community engagement and mental health awareness programs.
School Department
Superintendent of Springfield Public Schools Daniel Warwick presented the department’s budget. The department’s $545.4 million budget previously received approval from the School Committee. After adding in approved grants, the total budget for the department is $710.4 million.
Warwick explained that the FY23 budget increased by 8.2 percent, or $45 million. He said $116.4 million of the budget is allocated directly to the schools, with that figure representing support from the Student Opportunity Act Funding and Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds.
“We allocated to each school to design a plan around to effectuate that school moving forward. We have 60 schools with different needs, so our priority was to allocate as much money to the schools and let them make strategic spending decisions with their dollars,” said Warwick.
Some inclusions in the FY23 budget include free, full-day preschool education. Warwick explained that Springfield represents the first school department in the state to offer universal, full-day preschool education for all students. The department also expanded services, such as mental health assistance, transportation and technology with the budget.
Department of Public Works
Department of Public Works (DPW) Director Christopher Cignoli explained that the department operates with two budgets. For FY23, the general budget is $11.9 million while the department’s enterprise budget is $12.4 million. Both budgets represent a small increase from FY22, according to Cignoli. The funds address the department’s 136 employees, with 80 employees paid through the general budget and 56 by the enterprise fund.
The enterprise fund focuses on solid waste, recycling, yard waste and household hazardous waste, while the general fund addresses other department expenses, such as addressing traffic and storm draining issues.
A significant source of the increase is rising gas prices, with the department utilizing 55,000 gallons of gasoline on a monthly basis. Other increases derive from a new contract for DPW workers, paving expenses and changes to trash disposal due to the sale of Bondi’s Island trash incinerator.
“Instead of paying $77 a ton, we are now paying $97 a ton,” said Cignoli in reference the department’s trash disposal.
Cignoli shared that he is satisfied with the budget the department developed.
“As director, I am happy with the budget that has been put forward for us,” said Cignoli.
The City Council will vote on the budget during their next meetings.