Council OKs $98M budget; Deep cuts meant to put city on stronger footing.

Byline: Matthew Bruun

FITCHBURG - City councilors described the grim reality of the city's situation last night as they approved a $98 million budget for the next fiscal year, but voiced hope they were moving toward stronger long-term footing with the spending plan that eliminates public safety jobs and curtails residential services.

The budget closes the public library four days a week, eliminates 14 positions in the Fire Department and six police officers, among other cuts. Mayor Lisa A. Wong said she would look for ways to restore public safety positions within their operating budgets, and presented a menu from which she said she would look to restore services, should the city's financial outlook improve in the coming months.

Councilor Jody M. Joseph said he was voting in favor of the budget for the first time in five years, arguing that the mayor and the city's financial team had finally stopped the habits that had brought Fitchburg to what he termed the brink of fiscal ruin.

"It does put us to ruin in other areas," Mr. Joseph said. "We still have a lot of work to do to go from fiscally responsible to socially responsible for our citizens."

Councilor Marcus L. DiNatale cast the lone dissenting vote on the budget, arguing that his colleagues could have cut more from the proposal to channel funds to save two jobs apiece in the Fire and Police departments.

"I will not vote for the budget based on those facts," he said.

Councilor Dean A. Tran said he was also disappointed more was not cut from the budget, noting his colleagues had identified almost $250,000 in potential reductions. Of that amount, a reduction of $58,000 was approved by the full council.

The reductions represent $28,000 from the Montachusett Regional Vocational High School assessment, $10,000 to eliminate the downtown coordinator's position (current coordinator Ellen DiGeronimo is retiring), $10,000 for overtime in the building inspector's office, and $10,000 from legal services.

Councilor David Clark suggested taking $100,000 from the city's snow and ice budget to put into the stabilization fund, arguing stronger reserves would serve the city. Ms. Wong said she appreciated his logic, but said she would rather see the snow and ice budget based on a pattern of actual spending.

Councilor Stephan Hay called the budget the first realistic spending plan he had seen in six years.

"The cost of being fiscally responsible is elimination of services to those most in need," Mr. Hay said.

He said each councilor likely had a wish list of where they would like to see funding restored.

"The problem is if everyone at this table's needs were met tonight, we'd be exactly where we were last year," Mr. Hay said.

Councilor Kevin T. Starr said it was a difficult situation.

"I want my cake, and I want to eat it, too," he said. "It's not going to happen."

NAME: FITCHBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT; FITCHBURG FIRE DEPARTMENT; FITCHBURG CITY COUNCIL