Majority of Mayor's Proposed $4.76 Million Budget Increase Goes to Schools

Mayor Joseph Sullivan's $106 million fiscal year 2014 budget targets nearly two-thirds of a $4.76 million increase over the current year to the school department, with much of the remaining funding hike going to public safety, retirement and benefit costs and a variety of other departments.

Sullivan commended his town employees for their hard work in his annual budget address to the Town Council Wednesday night and for helping him navigate the town through an "ever-changing" economic landscape.

Despite several years of fiscal difficulties in Massachusetts, throughout the United States and globally, Braintree has almost tripled its reserves, to $17 million, balanced its budget for three consecutive years without appropriating free cash and received a bond rating upgrade from Moody's.

"Today, we see at the federal level of government elected officials clinging to a rigid ideology, prioritizing partisan politics over problem solving," Sullivan said. "Yet here in Braintree, despite some occasional differences, we have demonstrated a willingness to do what needs to be done."

As part of his budget proposal, Sullivan urged the council to adopt the local option meals tax, originally proposed several years ago by Councilor John Mullaney. It would bring the tax at Braintree restaurants from 6.25 percent to 7 percent, with the town keeping the additional revenue.

The mayor said he will submit an enhanced capital plan to utilize the extra funding for "school improvements, public safety and public works projects." The state Department of Revenue has estimated the tax could bring in upwards of $900,000 annually to Braintree.

The town has been able to increase its budget each year, including this year's proposed $2.1 million education funding hike, thanks in part to annual increases in real estate tax revenue, an anticipated $880,000 in private sector new growth, a small projected increase in state education aid, and savings from Braintree's waste contract, this year adding up to $300,000.

Sullivan said the town should boost its reserve funds in case of a midyear local aid reduction, and also proposed hiring up to five police officers and two to three firefighters this year to offset promotions and retirements.

"I am proud of this budget," Sullivan said. "It reflects the values and priorities of our community. It strikes an appropriate balance between fiscal prudence and investment in our future."

Including the enterprise golf, sewer and water funds, which operate separately from the regular operating budget, Sullivan's total spending proposal for fiscal year 2014 is $123,872,678, an increase of $5.8 million over 2013.

The Committee on Ways & Means will examine the budget more closely, department-by-department, during a series of upcoming public meetings. See the schedule here: http://braintree.patch.com/articles/braintree-s-fiscal-year-2014-budget-review-schedule

Return to Braintree Patch for more coverage of the budget.