[OP-ED]
By GERLY ADRIEN
Due to the pandemic, City Councilors, like myself, are reviewing the budget for this current fiscal year, July 1, 2020 – June 30, 2021. This is my first year as a City Councilor in reviewing the budget. It brings me lots of excitement as I know every dollar matters to the residents to be spent fiscally smart. My background includes my undergraduate degree from Bentley University, MBA from Boston University, and my nine years in finance/budgeting. I love looking at numbers to tell a story of how the chief executive using the funds puts their priorities in.
When I reviewed this budget, my initial questions include:
Assessors: Why is the budget for the Assessors’ Office increasing by 47% in what is, as far as I can tell from looking at the budgets for previous years, not a valuation year. Wasn’t that done in FY2018?
Technology: How are we going to improve technology this year for the city?
Planning: What are the programs being offered and funding to assist residents with home improvements, landlords, home-ownership assistance, and tenants related issues?
Continue reading “Does our budget reflect what the city needs?”
