Under our Plan A form of government, the preparation and presentation of the municipal budget, including the substantial school portion, are the exclusive responsibility of the Mayor and the School Committee. The complexities of the budget require a great deal of time by those responsible for it, and much of the information required for planning is not always available to the public until late in the process. Presentation to the council for review and approval is often too late and too little. I would recommend to the administration that budget hearings at all levels and for all departments be prominently advertised to afford opportunity for attendance by council members and interested members of the community. I would also reach out to the School Committee to meet quarterly with the City Council in joint convention to address potential budget short falls.
