Medford Proposed 2020 Budget: 10 Key Takeaways

MEDFORD, MA — Mayor Stephanie M. Burke submitted Medford's proposed FY 2020 budget Friday. The budget is focused on providing key city services and investing in schools to help maintain and augment all current school ratings, according to Burke's office.

"In FY20 we will continue to strive to exceed the service level expectations of our constituents," Mayor Burke said in a statement. "The mission of City government is to provide open, honest, and pro-active services effectively and efficiently, focusing on the needs of today and planning for tomorrow. Our role is also to provide a safe and secure environment for our students, faculty and all employees and visitors to our buildings."

The proposed FY 2020 budget totals $182,247,000. After $1,460,000 in Community Preservation appropriations and $463,000 in PEG access funds, the net budget is slightly lower.

10 Key Takeaways

1. The net budget is approximately $180 million, a 3.14 percent increase from last year. Of the $5.4 million increase overall, just about $1,100,000 is from increases in fixed costs such as Health Insurance of $400,000 and Pension costs of $700,000.
2. An additional increase is a result of Trash/Recycle of $400,000 and $200,000 is attributed to MWRA assessments for Water and Sewer. If these fixed costs are excluded, the increase is 2.1% overall.
3. Increase in school budget of $2.6 million
4. Contract negotiations for the Firefighters Union has resulted in an increase in the full-time Personnel salary line of approximately $860,000.
5. Increase funding for Police Department for a full year of civilian dispatch officers. In FY19, the city began the process of transferring over to civilian dispatch officers. This, in effect, will complement the police services with ten additional police officers and four firefighters that served in dispatch.
6. Building Department increases of approximately $62,000 representing a start date of October 1 for a new Facilities Manager.
7. An increase of $30,000 for the Medford Arts Council
8. Establishing a .5 FTE grant writer position
9. An increase in the Registrar of Voters Office for an additional full-time senior clerk position
10. Establishing a .5 FTE Production Coordinator for PEG station

The city's budget is supported by $118.3 million in real and personal property taxes; $19.6 million in local receipts, which include hotel, meals tax and cable fees; $25.7 million in enterprise revenue from Water and Sewer; Water- and Sewer-retained earnings of $650,000; $3.2 million in School Building Assistance Reimbursement of $3.2 million and $15.2 million in estimated Net Local Aid from the state.

Under the House Budget, on which this budget is built, School Aid from the Commonwealth (Chapter 70 and net charter school assessments) will see a decrease of $817,000 which is partially offset by an increase in Local Aid of $338,000.

FY 2020 will see many of the efficiencies that were the product of the current year
investments. This includes:

• Building Permit software and tablets that ties the building, assessor and treasurer's offices to the same software platform for new building permits and growth.
• Added personnel in the health department for greater response and inspections in the community.
• First class of graduates from the Civilian Dispatch Academy this June, which will augment police and fire.