Left In Lowell

Tonight at 5:30 at City Hall, the City Council’s Sub-committee on the Environment meeting will address the city’s recycling program, which is currently losing money and is in danger of being cut if we can’t bring about a change and get more of our residents to recycle.

Supporters of the city’s recycling program are encouraged to attend. This is a case where local involvement could bring about a sea change in our environmental impact in Lowell, or end with moving backwards by losing the program. If we all do our part, the recycling program could even make our city some money!

Tonight’s the Lowell City Council meeting will focus on finances, mostly in preparation for the upcoming discussions on the FY 2009 budget.

There are two motions that address the issue. The first is by CC Kevin Broderick asking the City Manager to report on the impact of the [anticipated] $3.5 million revenue decrease on cuts in personnel and services. The second motion is by Mayor Bud Caulfield. He is asking the Auditor to provide the Council with a financial report and projection for deficit also anticipated Free Cash Figure.

On April 8, the Finance Sub-Committee (CCs R. Elliott (Chair); K. Broderick and B. Martin) met to discuss the Capital Plan, the FY 2008 Budget (a quarterly report was provided by CFO Tom Moses) and the FY 2009 Budget. Here is the LTC link. Essential viewing for those who are interested in the financial state of our City.

Last year, the City Manager submitted the FY 2008 budget the third week of May. It gave the City Council plenty of time to review it and discuss it. I assume that the Administration will be ready with their proposed budget in a few weeks.

City Council members have two options in their approach to the budget: increase taxes or cut spending. It is really that simple. Unfortunately, on occasion some CC members want to have it both ways; in June they do not want any decrease on the expense side (i.e. no elimination of positions) and in January, they decry when taxes are raised. You cannot have it both ways. And those who propose using reserved funds, do it at the expense of future generations.

There are many ways of saving money without cutting back on services. Has the City maximized its consolidation of departments, eliminated duplicate efforts, reached its technological potential? Those are questions we should be asking ourselves.

And speaking of money, there are two “orders to borrow” on tonight’s agenda. Both are a necessity and I believe the expenditures have already been approved by the CC. The first is to borrow $4.7 for Capital Improvements and the second, $20.3 M, is to pay for the construction of the new Morey School.
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According to a Mike Lafleur article in yesterday’s Sun, “the $4.7 million capital-improvement loan order would provide funding to replace the roof and boiler at the Reilly Elementary School, replace the boiler at City Hall, replace the roof at the Bartlett School, install new lights at Cawley Stadium, repair the heating and air-conditioning system at Lowell High School and purchase $1.2 million in new city vehicles.” All those are necessities.