Beverly Mayor Presents $157 Million, 4.6 Percent Increase, Budget For 2024

BEVERLY, MA — Beverly Mayor Mike Cahill presented a $157 million 2024 budget, which includes a 4.6 percent increase in spending as well as new police and veterans services position hiring, during a Special City Council meeting set to kick off the month-long public budget process Thursday night.

For the first time this year, the budget will be available digitally to all residents through a link here and one on the city's website.

Cahill provided a brief overview of the budget Thursday night, which includes an increase of $3.3 million for Beverly Public Schools and $2.1 million in road paving allocations. Cahill said the operating budget line item, combined with $1.1 million in state Chapter 90 funding and a free cash request he intends to file with the City Council, will bring about $3.8 in road repair spending for 2024.

He said the budget includes a new position in veterans services and a new police patrol position, as well as the purchase of a new fire pump apparatus.

He said many of the increases were "non-discretionary" in that they relate to contractual obligations, mandated pension payments and increases in health insurance obligations.

"While I propose a budget for the specific year 2024 we know that decisions contained in this, or any other budget, have lasting effects that must be taken into account," Cahill said. "I say with utmost confidence that this budget is prepared with that eye toward future years. This budget will empower our city government and continue to deliver outstanding, world-class services to our residents.

"At the same time, it will position us to continue in the coming years to generate strong economic growth locally and to successfully complete the major capital projects we have agreed are important for our community's long-term success."

City Council President Julie Flowers said the public hearing portion of the budget process will begin with a Property and Finance Subcommittee meeting set for Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. in City Council chambers.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)