By Sue Ellen Woodcock
The City Council approved a $184 million budget Monday night for fiscal year 2018, which goes into effect July 1.
“This is one of the leanest I’ve seen in recent years with only a three percent increase over last year’s budget,†said Ward 5 Councillor John Powers, who is chairman of the council’s Ways and Means Subcommittee. “It’s a lean budget and to make any cuts would be to eliminate services. This is a compliment to the Mayor and his staff.â€
The Ways and Means Subcommittee held three budget sessions and went over the departments one by one.
The counsel also approved the use of $1 million in free cash to be used toward balancing the FY18 budget of $18,437,347 which also includes the school department.
The budget continues to hold the line on costs with non-school spending coming in at under three percent increase. Some of the increases in salaries were a result of union contracts in the police, fire and DPW. Other new parts of the budget include the human resources department and the 311 Call Center.