APPRO-2024-25 : Fiscal 2025 Operating Budget in the amount of $104,140,412 (One Hundred four million, one hundred forty thousand, four hundred and twelve dollars).

Transcript (~8 min @ 12:28)

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▶ 12:21 Speaker 1: Appropriation 2024 dash 25 fiscal 2025 operating budget in the amount of $104,140,412.

▶ 12:35 Maya Jamaleddine: Madam President, this, um, um, this order comes from the Appropriations and Oversight Committee with a recommendation, uh, for passage. And at this moment, uh, would like to make motion for passage. Second,

▶ 12:48 Leila Migliorelli: Motion for Passage made by Councilor Aldine, seconded

▶ 12:51 Speaker 6: by Councilor Williams on discussion, uh, councilor Aldine, and then Councillor Stewart.

▶ 12:56 Maya Jamaleddine: Thank you. Um, as the chair of the Appropriations and Oversight Committee, I, um, just led, um, uh, the budget, uh, hearing season. We are, uh, we invited all the departments heads and, uh, to present their budget. Um, we heard, uh, from them and, uh, we, you know, we learned that due to the, uh, stretch budget and the under, uh, served departments, um, that many positions, um, are eliminated, uh, services are cut or reduced. Um, and we are, uh, basically, uh, being under, uh, under, uh, served, uh, uh, but most alarming to me as the school and, uh, our, uh, students that are being now, um, suffering the decisions that adults have made. Um, unfortunately, uh, it is disappointing to see, um, what, uh, the results and the outcome of this election, but also it's, uh, alarming and, um, uh, and worrisome to know what we are going to deal with coming, uh, this, uh, this coming year. Um, I hope that, um, I, I would like to invite all my constituents and the city, um, the community to reflect on their decisions and on and review the budget and how the services, their, their votes, um, are going to impact every single person in, uh, our community.

▶ 14:34 Speaker 6: Thank you. Councillor Jamine, Councillor Stewart.

▶ 14:37 Robb Stewart: Thank you, Madam President, Madam President through the chair. I'd like to acknowledge, uh, um, counselor Alain for doing a great job on running the appropriation sessions required to get through the budget. Um, it's always challenging every year. Uh, this year was no exception. So the chair, I wanted to thank, uh, councilor Lauden for her efforts. Uh, also through the chair, I wanted to thank, um, mayor Jen for the efforts that she'd put forward to come up with a balanced budget, um, which, uh, I think was challenging this year. And I commend her for, uh, doing such, um, such an activity, uh, under these, uh, situations. So, thank you, mayor. Mayor, chair. Thank you, Madam President. Thank

▶ 15:14 Speaker 6: You, councilor Stewart. Anyone else on discussion? Councilor gpe?

▶ 15:16 Mark Garipay: Yeah, I was, I was gonna do it at the end of the meeting. Um, councilor Stewart, um, took, took my thunder. Um, but I, I was, uh, I, I was wanting to acknowledge both council, uh, um, chair Jamal, and I'm sorry, having trouble tonight and President Melli this, um, this budget process is my fifth one. Other than Covid, there was a lot of changes, a lot of scheduling, a lot of work outside of what we do normally, so I just wanted to acknowledge them. Um, so both of you thank you for keeping it moving. Thank you, council, and getting us on a budget that was passed by the 20th.

▶ 15:52 Speaker 6: Thank you. Anyone else on discussion? Councillor Vandiver

▶ 15:57 Kimberly Vandiver: Just wanted to thank the mayor and her team for all of their effort, putting forward a challenging budget under all of these constraints. And, um, managing to, to balance things in a way that did not require using free cash and is an honest look at, at what we're spending, um, throughout the year. Um, you know, and also also all the department heads who put a lot of information together in their memos a answered all of our questions. Um, and the many, um, people in Melrose who over the last two months, um, spent a lot of time and effort to present information clearly and rally support on a tight timeline to try to get, um, an increase to the budget that would fully support our needs. So, um, you know, this isn't the budget that I think most of us hoped we would be passing, but I, I really appreciate all the effort and that everybody left no options on the table to try to, um, to get us to, uh, a stronger budget.

▶ 16:52 Speaker 6: Thank you, Councillor. Er, anyone else?

▶ 16:56 Leila Migliorelli: Um, I would like to take opportunity of personal privilege to be able to just share my thoughts on the budget process. Um, while, while the budget we're voting on. Tonight is a balanced budget, and I think Mayor GTIs for, for putting forward something, um, that is allowing the city to live within its means. Um, the failure of the election on Tuesday, as councilors have pointed out, has cemented significant cuts to our budget, um, school and city services as a result. Throughout the budget hearing process, we have heard from department heads about the negative impact should the override fail. Um, and in Melrose schools, this means that we are losing 13 teachers. So 13 individuals will be losing their jobs. Um, we will have increased class sizes, decrease mental health supports, reduce substitute coverage, and more on the city side. There are gonna be less resources for seniors, veterans, police, and fire, and other basic city services. We will have first responders stretched

▶ 17:51 Speaker 7: thinner than they already are.

▶ 17:54 Leila Migliorelli: This was echoed in comments made by both chiefs with increased response times for ambulances just to name one of the impacts.

▶ 18:01 Speaker 9: The free cash money that we are not relying on

▶ 18:02 Leila Migliorelli: for this budget will, um, that we usually rely on. Actually, we all took some votes on, uh, to support infrastructure improvements. And infrastructure improvements means sidewalks and streets, um, will be diminished. So every single resident is going to be impacted by these cuts, and therefore our community at large will suffer. Um, I just wanted to say too, you know, if we compare government to, for-profit, for-profit businesses, customers are our residents. The product is the city and school services. And like any business, you can create efficiencies and find internal cost savings. And we heard about some of those measures being taken by the school superintendent and the mayor throughout these last few weeks. But at the end of the day, when the cost to deliver services, um, and products far exceeds the revenue re received, which in this case, as we heard, was due to sharp increases in health insurance premiums,

▶ 18:54 Leila Migliorelli: collective bargaining agreements, transportation, utilities, you have to make cuts, which is what we're doing tonight, passing a cut budget, or you increase revenue, which is what the majority of voters decided not to do on Tuesday. What I hope that everyone here and, um, across the city understand is that the reality of the public sector is that the revenue comes from all of us as taxpayers. We might not like that fact or think there might be, should be better or different options, but that's how government works. And what we are all left with as city counselors, uh, in particular is a harsh reality that some of the things we wanted to accomplish, this pa this year, upcoming year won't happen. So many of us have advocated for additional investments in lots of areas and peoples and program and people and programs that are simply not possible at this moment. I have no doubt that city will make the best of this situation. We've got incredible city staff, um, to do that, but it will fall far short of what this community needs or deserves. I'm hopeful that next time a vote occurs, this community will come together to recognize that we are all collectively the solution to improving the quality of life for all. And with that, if there's no other, um, moments on discussion, um, there is a motion on the table.

▶ 20:03 Speaker 6: Um, for passage. Madame Clerk, will you please call the role

▶ 20:06 Speaker 4: Councilor Ro? Yes. Councilor Repe? Yes. Council ine? Yes. Council Karen Treaty? Yes. Councilor Reky? Yes.

▶ 20:14 Speaker 8: Councilor Romanul? Yes. Councilor Stewart? Yes.

▶ 20:16 Speaker 4: Council of V Dever? Yes. Councilor Williams? Yes. President Mag? Yes. That's 10.

▶ 20:23 Speaker 6: Okay. That motion, that order for appropriation passes Next

▶ 20:27 Speaker 1: Appropriation 2024 dash 26 fiscal 2025 Water Enterprise Fund Operating budget in the amount of $6,726,508.