Vote Medford 2007

Full Text: (Q9) Budget Transparency

This year's budgeting process included the city council's passing a 500-page school budget without reading it, announcements about unanticipated deficits and a one-time calling in of debt to balance the books for 2007. What are your ideas on how the city's budget process could be improved and made more publicly transparent?

Arena: (Q9) Budget Transparency

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.

Burke: (Q9) Budget Transparency

For the record, this city councilor voted against the budget this year because we did not have an opportunity to sit down with the Superintendent or members of the School Committee prior to its passage. Unfortunately, Mass General Law sets the date by which the administration has to provide a budget to be June 10, 2007. Therefore, we cannot mandate receiving it any sooner. Likewise, the Local Aid numbers are generally not available until that time (or later). I would like to see the administration begin the budget process earlier by using the current year local aid number and completing the school budget prior to the date that the city budget is submitted to the council. Also, an overview should be provided to highlight the variances from the current year budget and key items in the proposed budget. It would also be helpful if the auditor could offer additional information throughout the year such as a variance report by month. I have requested this each and every year around January. To date, this office has been unable to provide these auditing tools to the council. Lastly, the Independent audit report needs to be completed in a more timely manner. This and the constructive service commentary need to be furnished to the public.

Camuso: (Q9) Budget Transparency

The City has done well despite severe cutbacks in State aid to municipalities. Medford has remained stable while many other communities have had to cut essential services and ask for tax overrides. As a councilor I stay in touch with the Superintendent of Schools and School Committee Members regarding that budget. The school budget did not incorporate any big changes this year and the Superintendent came before The Medford City Council to discuss it in detail after it was approved unanimously by the School Committee. The Council receives the school budget book, which details all proposed expenditures. I encourage interested citizens to attend our meetings and those of the School Committee. Both bodies are constantly referencing budget matters throughout the year. Budget should not be thought of as a once a year event. The biggest issue on finance affecting cities and towns is to regain a fair share of state aid. Medford and many other communities has lost millions in state aid since Fiscal 2003 when the State cut back to solve their own problems. Medford has been very creative in keeping programs and services in place. We would opt have to resort to one time measures with a more stable contribution from the state.

Chamberlain: (Q9) Budget Transparency

If elected to Medford City Council I will never vote on any matter unless I read it completely and research it thoroughly. The city must be fiscally responsible and its elected officials must know were every dollar is spent. Not being an incumbent I do not know the thought process used and the relationships between council members that formulates solutions to revenue challenges.

Dello Russo: (Q9) Budget Transparency

The city’s budget process is predominantly un-transparent, and rushed, preventing a critical analysis of city expenditures. It is presented to the legislative bodies by the administrative body for approval and questions. It comes with a certain amount of givens: we are low on funds; the smallest amount of cuts in expenses are made to help us get by and to save jobs and essential services; State aid diminishes each year making it nearly impossible to add needed positions or implement new programs. While the process has significant flaws the reality as I see it is that there is very little wiggle room. We should have wider participation early on in forming the budget to lessen the feeling of exclusion and to allow fresher ideas on how the money is allocated. The auditing office needs to be more forthcoming.

Lungo: (Q9) Budget Transparency

First of all, for those who did not see the council meeting the night the budget passed, I did not vote to approve the 500 page school budget in 2007. I was given the budget to review at our 6:00 p.m. sub-committee meeting and expected to vote on it at 7:00 p.m. The school budget is such a huge part of the overall budget with so many details and such important line items such as class size, energy costs, salaries, etc. There was no way I could have approved something I did not have time to look over in depth.

I was voted into office to do my homework and protect the best interests of the Medford citizens, including our youth population. I said it that night and I will say it again, I believe that I as one councillor would be doing a disservice and would not be doing my job if I voted to approve it with such short notice. I wanted at least 48 hours to read and go through it to be able to ask questions and have time to obtain answers.

To improve the budget process, I would say the number one thing I would want would be more time to review it before I had to vote to approve it or not.

Maiocco: (Q9) Budget Transparency

I personally reviewed the $45 million school dept.budget and questioned the supt. Of school’s on certain aspects of it. All city budget hearings were open to the public. Receipts from the sale of the Lincoln-Kennedy complex will eventually resolve the deficit issue.

Marks: (Q9) Budget Transparency

I remember this very well, because when the school budget was presented, the superintendent didn't even show up.

The best tool for improvement is the calendar. In order to make sound budget decisions, we must make a systematic approach; that is, develop a systems of ideas presentation and peer review. Department heads must meet ahead of time to review budgets, make realistic recommendations for improvement, and put together a plan that could then be presented to the public. In this way, the public would act as a peer reviewer of the budget. This is only proper, as the budget affects themselves and their children! In this process the questions asked should also be asked of members of the school committee and of the superintendent. As a former three- term member of the school committee, I welcomed questions from residents and felt that I should be able to either answer questions given me or refer people to the person who could best answer them. I also know that the best way to improve the budget is to do precisely what most people do not want to do - go through the budget line by line. Until those involved are willing to do that, and with dedication, we will see the same problems we have seen in past years.

Penta: (Q9) Budget Transparency

The budget has always been transparent. Unfortunately, this year we got the school department budget on the day for passing the city budget. I believe all councilors were not happy with this last minute process. But, with the school committee knowing of this last minute situation and not attending the city council meeting, the feeling was strongly stated by the council not to come back before the council if their budget fell short. Since the law only allows a council to cut and not add, the vote was dictated.