Who cut the salary line item and the expense line item of the Greenfield Police Department? Some call it “defund” the police. It was the City Council at their second budget meeting in May that cut the budget to “send a message.”
It was not me … the mayor.
There seems to be some confusion about that among many in our community. Briefly, here’s how it works.
The budget calendar set by Massachusetts General Law (MGL) requires me, the mayor — in Greenfield’s case — to send a new fiscal year operating budget to the legislative body — the City Council in Greenfield’s case. Under MGL, the legislative body has the authority to responsibly review the budget and make accountable decisions on the appropriations in the budget. They cannot add to the overall budget; but they can reduce the budget.
After much collaboration and deliberation with city department heads and the finance director over several months, I submitted a balanced budget to the City Council that covered all recently negotiated union employee salary increases as well as modest increases in various expenses to attempt to cover rising costs in goods and services. Several months prior to May, the City Council voted to accept those contracts with the negotiated salary and wage increases. On July 1 of this year, that FY23 budget takes effect. Costs of goods and services are still rising; employees still deserve to get paid for the work that they do.
Contrary to what some believe, the executive body — me, the mayor, cannot veto the budget. That’s the law!
By the way, neither I nor the police chief, can just arbitrarily choose who gets laid off and who doesn’t. Under our negotiated union contracts, it is “last in, first out.” For better or for worse, we honor seniority.
So, now, we’re left with the damage done to the overall public safety of you — the residents of Greenfield — by your elected City Council.
Let’s hope they can find a way to correct their mistakes, before July 1.
Roxann Wedegartner in the mayor of Greenfield.