Beverly Mayor Warns Of Belt Tightening In State Of City Address

BEVERLY, MA -- The good news is that Beverly has $13.5 million in its rainy day fund. The bad news is that's just slightly more than 10 percent of the average annual budget of $130 million. As a result, Mayor Mike Cahill used his state of the city address Monday to warn of "difficult budgeting years" ahead.

"The city must remain cautious in our growth to ensure we will have the capacity to deliver services not only in the near future, but beyond, for our children and grandchildren," Cahill said in the 30-minute address at city hall. Cahill said the new middle school and police station, as well as increased healthcare and pension costs for city employees, are adding to city expenditures.

Other highlights from the speech included:

• an announcement that Beverly had joined other municipalities in filing a federal lawsuit against pharmaceutical companies. The lawsuits are aimed at recouping costs cities and towns have incurred in fighting the opioid epidemic.
• an upbeat assessment of Beverly's efforts to fight climate change, including plans to put solar panels on city owned properties and buildings.
• a renewed push to licensing four recreational marijuana stores in the city. "Let me say this again – we, the mayor and the City Council, cannot say no to this new industry and these new businesses coming to Beverly," Cahill said.

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Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).