LYNN — City department heads met with the City Council’s budget subcommittee on Tuesday night to discuss the $407 million fiscal year 2022 budget that Mayor Thomas M. McGee proposed on May 20.
Chief Financial Officer Michael Bertino said that in order to compile the budget, he spent about three months asking each city department what it needed, then prioritized those needs and capital requests to meet with McGee and his staff to formulate the FY22 budget.
“Overall, it’s a pretty detailed budget that has a lot of items going on,” Bertino said. “Obviously we didn’t have enough money to fund every single position, but we did look at all the requests closely.”
Three new positions were added into the budget, including one in the comptroller’s office, one in the Inspectional Services Department’s (ISD) health division and one in the Department of Public Works (DPW) office.
The subcommittee meeting, led by Councilor-At-Large Brian LaPierre, was an opportunity for department heads to share their thoughts and requests about the budget prior to the official vote on the budget in a few weeks.
Many departments accepted the budget as is and commented on how the money will benefit them, but some suggested adjustments and requests for more funds.
Fire Chief Stephen Archer said the $21.09 million budget for his department is close to being adequate, but there are a couple of items to which he brought attention.
With a little over $1 million in overtime funds, Archer said that is not likely to be adequate for the department’s needs and that the number quoted would not be sufficient to meet minimum manning requirements.
He also brought up tuition reimbursement, saying $120,000 is a bit conservative, and the department would need about $150,000, since Archer said some of the younger members take advantage of that opportunity.
Archer also suggested moving $50,000 from money recently put toward replacing portable radios to be shifted to improving communication systems.
Director of the Lynn Public Library Theresa Hurley said she also may need more money in the overtime budget because the state Board of Library Commissioners requires her to open the library for over 60 hours per week. With her staff of 15, she said she will need more funds in overtime to maintain operations.
Recently-instated Police Chief Christopher P. Reddy also sought more funds for overtime, saying that with the anticipated 10 to 15 retirements in the next year and the unanticipated recent loss of seven officers, those factors are going to impact their operations and increase the need for overtime.
He also said the department will need more funds for anticipated costs coinciding with the new body cameras and the stipend of $79,600 that goes along with that program, neither of which are included in the $21.97 million police budget for FY22.
In addition, Reddy said they will be seeking a new radio system soon — as the current one is dying out — which will carry a cost of about $500,000.
Representing the School Department, Business Administrator Kevin McHugh announced some additions to the department that will be reflected in its $180.7 million budget, including the addition of 19 social workers next year, an increase in Special Education and English as a Second Language staff and the hiring of more technology teachers.
McHugh also said the department plans to have a parent liaison in every school, preferably one who can speak English and Spanish, which would ensure the schools can meet the needs of the families it serves.
“We’ll spend the money the best we can and squeeze every penny out,” McHugh said.
The City Council is scheduled to vote on the FY22 budget on June 22; before votes are cast, McGee will share further insight on his budget.
