At-large Councilor Matthew Emmershy at Tuesday’s Finance sub-committee budget review.
WESTFIELD – Following a two and a half hour review of city departments on Tuesday, the Finance sub-committee of Councilors Dan Allie, chairman, Matt Emmershy and Andrew K. Surprise proposed targeted cuts of more than $2 million to the FY19 city budget.
The largest cuts went to the largest departments, including a proposed $600,000 cut to the School Department, which was also the last on the list. Surprise commented before proposing the cut that they are the largest department, and the budget had gone up $1.1 million this year.
In his presentation before the Finance committee on June 13, Rix said the actual net increase to the city was less than $500,000, considering the increase of $408,000 in state aid (chapter 70), and $ 220,000 of costs that the city side of the budget had covered in the past.
During the committee’s discussion of the proposed cut, Emmershy asked if Surprise had any idea of the ramifications on the schools. “They’re going to have to move around money. We can only give them a figure,” Surprise responded. Allie said any of the numbers that the committee proposed could be adjusted at the Meeting of the Whole City Council on Wednesday evening. “Let’s hope not,” Surprise said.
At the start of Tuesday’s meeting, Mayor Brian P. Sullivan came before the committee to answer some of their questions. He confirmed that there is an increase of $918,000 in general funds this year, including the increase in salaries of $105,000, mainly due to a 2.5% increase negotiated for city employees.
Sullivan said to get to that increase employees gave up severance, which he said was not an offset because they will be giving it up “forever.” He also said they accepted a 3% decrease in health contributions from the city, now at 17%; a reduction he said was led by the School Department in its negotiations.
The Mayor also confirmed that the budget includes $600,000 from Free Cash, in response to a question from Allie, as well as $1.3 million anticipated in new growth and a proposed increase on the assessed value on residential properties.
Surprise asked Sullivan if he planned to do a managed process of the budget as he did last year, when he came before them midway through the year proposing a $1.5 million cut. “Absolutely; last year was the first time in anyone’s memory that the mayor came before you midway to cut $1.5 million,” he said.
After Sullivan stepped down, the Finance sub-committee began going through the department budgets, beginning with the City Council and Mayor’s office. Emmershy proposed a $26,000 cut ($2,000 per member) to the City Council. In the Mayor’s office, he recommended cutting the Mayor’s salary by $9,400, and cutting out the Outreach Coordinator’s position, for a total of $58,000 in cuts.
Ward 3 Councilor Andrew K. Surprise at Finance sub-committee.
Another department targeted for cuts included $100,000 to the Technology Center, which Surprise originally proposed cutting by two-thirds. He said he had been speaking with the former Finance sub-committee chair, Ward 5 Councilor Robert A. Paul, Sr., who suggested they should be outsourcing and moving the services to Westfield Gas & Electric.
“Budget time is not necessarily the time to initiate something that should have been planned out and worked out with the Mayor. I don’t think that’s the way to go about it,” said Allie. Emmershy agreed, saying he’d be in favor of a $50,000 cut each from full-time salary and purchase of services (POS).
“The Mayor has made as many cuts as he can safely make. We’re a working middle class town; people can’t afford a 2, 3, or 4% increase in taxes,” responded Surprise.
Another proportionately large cut in relation to the budget was to Barnes Airport, proposed by Emmershy. “I have a real problem with this one,” he said, pointing to $471,000 in revenue in the budget of $821,000. “I want to see the Airport break even,” he said, and made a motion for a $425,000 cut divided between line items. Surprise seconded, although he said he was not supportive of the cut.
Surprise said that fuel revenue generated at the airport goes into the city budget, and said it should show up on the airport budget. Emmershy said the airport also talked about increased landing fees. “In this instance, we’re covering costs for people who own airplanes,” he said.
“The problem is, you can’t eliminate that much stuff and still run an airport,” Allie said, adding that there are ways of pushing to generate revenue. The motion passed 2-1, with Allie dissenting. Emmershy also proposed cutting $25,000 in Buildings & Grounds for an HVAC upgrade at the Airport, which passed 3-0.
Another sizable cut voted by the committee included $84,648 to the Law Department for the labor attorney; and cuts of $18,000 in core coverage, $25,000 in POS, and $20,000 in supplies to the Police Department.
In the Fire Department, Emmershy recommended cuts totaling $26,000 in salary, longevity and education, in order for the department to negotiate a lower rate for Fire Chief after Mary Regan retires in July.
In Engineering, Emmershy proposed cutting $100,000 earmarked for the Levee multi-use trail, which had already been cut by $75,000 by Mayor Sullivan. “We still have another trail that isn’t complete. I don’t want to see us moving forward on this,” he said.
Finance sub-committee chairman Dan Allie will present the recommended cuts to the City Council at a special meeting Wednesday at 6 p.m.
In the Department of Public Works, police details in several departments were reduced. Surprise said he had discussed with the DPW a different way to log police details. “I’ve noticed police details on some roads that don’t need them,” he said.
Emmershy proposed eliminating a foreman’s position in the Highway Department for a $56,000 cut. He said there are two foremen that switch off on a weekly basis. “We’ve got to trim,” Emmershy said. He also proposed cutting a vacant clerk position at $32,000 that the department was looking to fill. He also recommended a $40,000 reduction for a new plant operator in the Water Department, saying the plants for Wells 1, 2, 7 and 8 wouldn’t be operational for a year or two.
Vehicles targeted for cuts included $35,000 for a new pickup for Sewer and Wastewater; $40,000 to lease an excavator in the Water Department, and $55,000 for a roll-off truck with a dumpster in the Stormwater Department.
The Finance sub-committee will present their recommendations to the Committee of the Whole City Council Wednesday, June 27 at 6 p.m. for a budget review, followed by a vote on the FY19 budget at a Special City Council meeting on Thursday, June 28 at 6:30 p.m. in City Council chambers.
“We wanted to offer up enough cuts to offset some of the tax increases,” Surprise said at the end of the meeting.
