Here is a complete Google video of the Finance Committee meeting of 2/25/09. In this meeting, Mayor Clare Higgins presents the factors affecting the Fiscal Year 2010 budget. This video is 1 hour and 19 minutes long and was recorded by Lachlan Ziegler. It is also available on Vimeo. The information presented by the Mayor is available on the city’s website on the FY2010 Budget pages. Numerous budget-balancing suggestions from the public are reproduced and commented on.
Ward 3 City Councilor Bob Reckman has asked us to publicize the following schedule of budget briefings that will take place by ward. The Ward 3 briefing is scheduled for March 16.
FY2010 BUDGET BRIEFINGS
Mayor Higgins will be attending Ward meetings hosted by Northampton City Councilors to present an up to date look at the city’s financial outlook for FY2010. As has been widely reported in the local press, the city faces a budget gap of more than $6 million dollars next year, if we were to keep the same level of staffing, programs and services in the fiscal year that begins July 1. As the Mayor works with City Department Heads to present a balanced budget to City Councilors later this spring, she is eager to share information with residents and to hear the priorities and suggestions of city residents as she moves forward with her budget planning.
Residents may attend any meeting which they would like, but the Mayor is attending meetings in each Ward in order to make it as convenient as possible for as many people to attend who would like to.
All Meetings are from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Monday March 9, Ward 1, Jackson Street School Library, hosted by Councilor Maureen Carney
Wednesday March 11, Ward 7, Leeds School Cafetorium, hosted by Councilor Ray LaBarge
Monday March 16, Ward 3, Bridge Street School, hosted by Councilor Robert Reckman
Monday March 23, Ward 6, R K Finn Ryan Road School, hosted by Councilor Marianne LaBarge
Tuesday March 24, Ward 5, Florence Civic Center, hosted by Councilor David Murphy
Monday March 30, Ward 4, City Council Chambers, hosted by Councilor David Narkewicz
Tuesday April 7, Ward 2, to be announced, hosted by Councilor Paul Spector
If you cannot attend any of the meetings but wish to learn more about the budget crisis facing Northampton in FY2010, please visit our web pages, www.northamptonma.gov/FY2010. If you have questions or suggestions, send them to Mayor Higgins by email at mayor@northamptonma.gov or by post at 210 Main Street, Room 12, Northampton, MA 01060.
See also:
Mayor’s Email Update March 2009: FY2010 Budget Information Available; Presentation to Ward 3 on March 16
I have also asked you all to provide us with ideas and suggestions for
possible budget cuts and areas to cut back. I am deeply grateful for
all of our neighbors who have so far sent in their thoughts,
priorities, suggestions and concerns. We have added a webpage called
The City Speaks [link], where I have posted these ideas. Some of them are
actions we have already taken; some are actions we cannot take under
the law; some bear closer scrutiny. I hope you will take some time to
read the ideas our neighbors have suggested, and as always, let me know
your thoughts as well, by email at mayor@northamptonma.gov.
The budget projection we have leaves us with a deficit of more than $6
million on the city side and $3 million on the school side. There is no
way we can function with the same level of programs and services we are
currently accustomed to with so dramatic a budget gap. Now more than
ever we need to keep the community dialogue alive about the kind of
community we want to live in and how our city government can best
support that vision.
Video: School Committee Meeting of February 12; Presentation of Strategic Plan