I sometimes view Greenfield (and other U.S. cities) as analogous to the Titanic. Unsinkable communities foundering under the weight of ever-increasing expenses necessary to keep the ship of state afloat without overburdening its passengers (taxpayers).
Mayor RoxannWedegartner has submitted a $61.6 million budget proposal for Greenfield’s fiscal year 2024 representing a spending increase of nearly 6.5% over the current year’s operating budget of $57.9 million. Her budget proposal asks for a $1.5 million cut to the Greenfield School Committee’s proposed $23.15 million budget, a 10.35% increase over the school’s 2023 budget. Part of the pressure on the School Committee is caused by the decline of 158 students this year, resulting in less education aid from the state and more of a burden on our local tax base.
The city’s overall budget proposal of $61.6 million includes significant reductions across many departments to mitigate continued cost increases for goods and services, while also supporting contractually obligated salary and wage increases for the city’s employees. As a result, the budget already contains significant reductions from the funding requests submitted by other city departments last fall.
Precinct 1 Councilor Katherine Golub, in response to the mayor’s proposed $1.5 million reduction in the School Committee’s request, is quoted as saying “Our budget is a reflection of what we value as a community.” Golub’s caveat applies to every city department from fire and police to health and public works.
There is no argument that there are critical needs that call for the full $23.15 million School Committee request. Except for the lack of money to make it possible. Unless taxes were raised. Or other departments eviscerated.
I wonder how the budget allocation process would work if committee members from every department were charged with deciding who gets preferred seats in the city’s fiscal lifeboat.
John Bos
Greenfield