The new city budget being presented to the Springfield City Council will result in no layoffs, but includes the closure of the Pine Point and Liberty Street branch libraries. Hours will increase at the other branches.
SPRINGFIELD – Mayor Domenic J. Sarno will present a $571.8 million budget proposal to the City Council on Wednesday that includes plans to close the Pine Point and Liberty Street branch libraries, effective July 1, while expanding hours at the remaining branches.
Domenic Sarno The proposed fiscal year 2014 budget will result in no layoffs and maintains funding for a police academy, now in session to hire 22 officers, while adding a “mini academy” to train and hire eight firefighters to fill vacancies, Sarno said.
“The budget is austere,” Sarno said. “I tried to keep what we think are important services, core services to the residents and to the city. Public safety, I kept it as the number one priority.
The budget reflects being fiscally responsible under tight finances and being at the tax levy ceiling, Sarno said. “These were tough decisions for me, but I had to make them,” he said.
The budget is balanced in part by a $1 million signing bonus from MGM Resorts International, to be received July 1, and a projection of receiving another $4 million from MGM if its plan for a casino in Springfield is approved by voters and the Massachusetts Gaming Commission.
If the casino is not approved, the city has alternate strategies to balance the budget for the coming fiscal year, but it would be much more difficult the following year, fiscal 2015, said Sarno and acting Chief Administrative and Financial Officer Timothy J. Plante.
Without the casino funds, the city was faced with more than 100 layoffs and service reductions, Sarno said.
In addition, the new budget for July 1 will rely on $7 million from the city’s stabilization reserve “rainy day” fund. The reserve fund currently has a $35 million balance, and the use of $7 million from the fund needs approval from the council.
The closure of the two branch libraries was decided after an independent study of the library system, and the conclusion that it made sense to close the two branches and expand hours at the remaining seven branches, Sarno said. The remaining branches are open just 18 hours each, per week, but will expand to 30 hours per week for the coming year aided by the branch closings, he said.
Budget hardships resulted in the closure of the Pine Point, Liberty Street and East Forest Park branches on July 2, last summer, but they reopened in October with funds restored by Sarno and the City Council. The trash fee increased by $15, to $90 per year, including $5 targeting the closed libraries.
While the branches are closing again, they will have further educational and neighborhood uses, but specifics are not yet finalized, Sarno said.
The council will conduct hearings with all city departments in considering the mayor’s budget proposal. The council has the power to approve the mayor’s budget or cut funds from specific accounts, but cannot add funds.
The $571.8 million budget reflects an increase of 1.6 percent over the current budget. Seventeen vacant positions including 11 police positions will not be filled, leaving 1,242 municipal employees.
The city will continue to fund its 50 percent share of the Quinn Bill (education incentive) funds for the Police Department, while the remaining 50 percent will be set aside and be subject to contract negotiations with the police unions, Sarno said. The state had funded up to 50 percent of the Quinn Bill in the past, but reduced and eventually eliminated its share.
The city will continue to conduct mowing and maintenance of 10 small parks and city terraces, that were discontinued in the past due to budget cuts, Sarno said. The maintenance will continue through a low-cost arrangement with the Sheriff’s Department’s inmate work crew program.
The city will also continue to provide summer recreational programs and keep all pools and Five Mile Pond open, and will continue services such as single stream recycling collections, Sarno said.