At-large City Councilor Brent B. Bean, II. (WNG File Photo)
WESTFIELD – The schedule has been set for department heads to come before the Finance sub-committee, chaired by At-large Councilor Brent B. Bean, II, for hearings on the fiscal year 2020 budget request this week; and for a public hearing on the budget, the City Council line item review, and final passage to take place next week.
Mayor Brian P. Sullivan presented the city side of the FY20 budget of $69,158,252 at a Special City Council meeting on June 12. The total budget request, when combined with the school district’s budget of $63,164,542; is $132,322,794, an increase of approximately 2.5 percent over FY19.
“Finance’s charge this year is to have zero free cash in the budget and reduce the 2.5 increase in the Mayor’s budget. I believe after the budget hearings next week (June 17, 18 and 19) we will be able to reduce the increase,” Bean said.
On Tuesday, June 18, Finance will meet in Room 307 in City Hall beginning at 5:30 p.m. with a regular business meeting of end of fiscal year 2019 transfers and allocations, referred to the committee at the June 8 City Council meeting. Department hearings will begin at 5:45 p.m. with the Health Department. Also on the agenda are the Treasurer, Auditor, Purchasing and Fire Departments.
On Wednesday, June 19, the budget hearings will move to the City Council Chambers in Room 207 beginning at 5:30 with the School Department. Also appearing will be Law, Police, Public Works and Engineering Departments.
On Thursday, June 20, Finance will begin at 5:30 p.m. in the City Council chambers prior to the regularly scheduled City Council meeting at 7 p.m., and meet with the Airport, Council on Aging, Veteran and Information Technology Departments.
Next Tuesday, June 25, will be a Public Hearing on the budget as submitted by the Mayor, beginning at 6 p.m. in City Council Chambers, Room 207. All interested parties are invited to attend and speak for or against the budget as a whole, or any item in it. This meeting is the one opportunity in the schedule for residents to speak about the budget.
Immediately following the public hearing on Tuesday, will be a Special City Council meeting to review the fiscal year 2020 budget.
On Thursday, June 27, a Special City Council meeting begins at 6 p.m. in City Council Chambers, for final passage of the FY20 budget.
