April 23, 2012 Cambridge City Council Meeting Highlights – featuring the Proposed FY2013 Budget
The FY2013 Budget for the City of Cambridge will be submitted this Monday, April 23 to the City Council. Here’s a table of the bottom line for all of the City Departments for FY2013 as well as FY2005 and FY2012 for comparison:
City of Cambridge FY2013 Budget
| GENERAL GOVERNMENT | FY05 submitted | FY12 submitted | FY13 submitted | 1 yr % change | 8 yr % change |
| Mayor | 430,035 | 587,235 | 554,040 | -5.7 | 28.8 |
| Executive | 1,353,140 | 1,999,890 | 2,068,675 | 3.4 | 52.9 |
| City Council | 975,570 | 1,602,960 | 1,642,165 | 2.4 | 68.3 |
| City Clerk | 720,925 | 964,540 | 1,067,130 | 10.6 | 48.0 |
| Law | 1,780,975 | 2,112,790 | 2,061,495 | -2.4 | 15.8 |
| Finance | 8,837,560 | 12,046,005 | 12,350,575 | 2.5 | 39.8 |
| Employee Benefits | 20,499,920 | 30,922,965 | 31,796,130 | 2.8 | 55.1 |
| General Services | 984,345 | 739,215 | 726,475 | -1.7 | -26.2 |
| Election | 756,540 | 1,062,480 | 1,004,285 | -5.5 | 32.7 |
| Public Celebrations | 671,505 | 791,445 | 799,370 | 1.0 | 19.0 |
| Reserve | 37,500 | 37,500 | 37,500 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| TOTAL | $37,048,015 | $52,867,025 | $54,107,840 | 2.3 | 46.0 |
| PUBLIC SAFETY | FY05 submitted | FY12 submitted | FY13 submitted | 1 yr % change | 8 yr % change |
| Animal Commission | 228,870 | 288,660 | 298,585 | 3.4 | 30.5 |
| Fire | 28,891,840 | 39,055,065 | 40,111,145 | 2.7 | 38.8 |
| Police | 31,515,220 | 43,496,275 | 45,643,095 | 4.9 | 44.8 |
| Traffic, Parking & Transportation | 8,175,095 | 10,294,470 | 10,551,435 | 2.5 | 29.1 |
| Police Review & Advisory Board | 77,210 | 103,745 | 70,730 | -31.8 | -8.4 |
| Inspectional Services | 2,261,215 | 2,992,440 | 3,115,045 | 4.1 | 37.8 |
| License | 726,735 | 931,910 | 986,140 | 5.8 | 35.7 |
| Weights & Measures | 98,910 | 130,025 | 134,325 | 3.3 | 35.8 |
| Electrical | 2,239,640 | 2,773,865 | 2,792,005 | 0.7 | 24.7 |
| Emergency Management | 137,820 | 0 | 0 | -100.0 | |
| Emergency Communications | 3,097,485 | 4,085,420 | 4,242,970 | 3.9 | 37.0 |
| TOTAL | $77,450,040 | $104,151,875 | $107,945,475 | 3.6 | 39.4 |
| COMMUNITY MAINT/DEVELOPMENT | FY05 submitted | FY12 submitted | FY13 submitted | 1 yr % change | 8 yr % change |
| Public Works | 23,648,125 | 30,397,855 | 31,945,265 | 5.1 | 35.1 |
| Community Development | 4,472,620 | 5,283,620 | 5,482,210 | 3.8 | 22.6 |
| Historical Commission | 457,580 | 571,470 | 587,025 | 2.7 | 28.3 |
| Conservation Commission | 89,760 | 100,305 | 101,925 | 1.6 | 13.6 |
| Peace Commission | 76,215 | 119,590 | 139,595 | 16.7 | 83.2 |
| Cable T.V. | 999,500 | 1,402,505 | 1,436,360 | 2.4 | 43.7 |
| Debt Service | 23,917,070 | 44,594,830 | 47,526,975 | 6.6 | 98.7 |
| TOTAL | $53,660,870 | $82,470,175 | $87,219,355 | 5.8 | 62.5 |
| HUMAN RESOURCE/DEVELOPMENT | FY05 submitted | FY12 submitted | FY13 submitted | 1 yr % change | 8 yr % change |
| Library | 5,461,430 | 8,398,455 | 8,710,520 | 3.7 | 59.5 |
| Human Services | 14,581,590 | 21,227,585 | 22,480,760 | 5.9 | 54.2 |
| Women’s Commission | 155,860 | 217,720 | 225,425 | 3.5 | 44.6 |
| Human Rights Commission | 158,730 | 222,615 | 220,160 | -1.1 | 38.7 |
| Veterans | 510,885 | 1,033,660 | 981,165 | -5.1 | 92.1 |
| TOTAL | $20,868,495 | $31,100,035 | $32,618,030 | 4.9 | 56.3 |
| CITY TOTAL | $189,027,420 | $270,589,110 | $281,890,700 | 4.2 | 49.1 |
| EDUCATION | FY05 submitted | FY12 submitted | FY13 submitted | 1 yr % change | 8 yr % change |
| Schools Operating (TOTAL) | 122,053,195 | 140,719,260 | 144,987,705 | 3.0 | 18.8 |
| INTERGOVERNMENTAL | FY05 submitted | FY12 submitted | FY13 submitted | 1 yr % change | 8 yr % change |
| MWRA | 16,177,455 | 21,699,800 | 21,006,055 | -3.2 | 29.8 |
| Cherry Sheet Assessments | 11,569,960 | 18,285,305 | 19,700,025 | 7.7 | 70.3 |
| Cambridge Health Alliance | 6,500,000 | 6,000,000 | 6,500,000 | 8.3 | 0.0 |
| TOTAL | 34,247,415 | 45,985,105 | 47,206,080 | 2.7 | 37.8 |
| GRAND TOTALS | $345,328,030 | $457,293,475 | $474,084,485 | 3.7 | 37.3 |
| FY05 submitted | FY12 submitted | FY13 submitted | 1 yr % change | 8 yr % change | |
| WATER | $17,098,120 | $14,902,620 | $14,144,080 | -5.1 | -17.3 |
| PUBLIC INVESTMENT | $8,834,255 | $11,613,225 | $21,277,065 | 83.2 | 140.8 |
PDF of this Chart Open Chart on separate page
Note 1: There’s nothing special about FY2005 for making comparisions. That’s just the earliest year with available online budget summaries.
Note 2: Don’t jump to conclusions about the apparent jump in budget for the Peace Commission or the apparent drop in budget for the Police Review Advisory Board. They now share an Executive Director, so the changes are most likely related to which budget is covering that salary.
The proposed FY2013 Budget is City Manager’s Agenda #1. There are a few other items on the agenda as well. For example:
City Manager’s Agenda #11. Transmitting communication from Robert W. Healy, City Manager, relative to the appointment of the following persons as members of the Police Review & Advisory Board for a term of five years, effective Apr 17, 2012:
Ann Coyne,
Laurance Kimbrough,
Lucy Murray-Brown
City Manager’s Agenda #12. Transmitting communication from Robert W. Healy, City Manager, relative to the appointment of the following persons as members of the Board of Zoning Appeals effective Apr 18, 2012:
Lindsey Thorne-Bingham (Full Member, 5-year term); Janet Green (Associate Member, 2-year term)
Andrea Hickey (Associate Member, 2-year term); Kevin McAvey (Associate Member, 2-year term)
City Manager’s Agenda #13. Transmitting communication from Robert W. Healy, City Manager, relative to the appointment of the following persons as members of the Human Rights Commissioner for three year terms effective Apr 18, 2012:
Brendan St. Amant,
Adrian Velazquez
It’s apparently catch-up time for appointments to City boards and commissions.
City Manager’s Agenda #15. Transmitting communication from Robert W. Healy, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $11,917,462 from Free Cash to the General Fund Law Department Travel and Training (Judgment and Damages) account.
This is the formal balancing of the books to account for the payment out of free cash to cover the legal settlement costs relating to the unfortunate outcome of the lawsuits of Monteiro, Wong, and Stamper. Hopefully we’ll not see any other opportunistic lawsuits like these any time soon.
Resolution #11. Resolution on the death of Timothy J. Decker. Vice Mayor Simmons, Councillor Maher, Councillor Cheung, Mayor Davis, Councillor Kelley, Councillor Reeves, Councillor Toomey and Councillor vanBeuzekom
Sincere condolences to Marjorie Decker on the loss of her father.
Order #5. That the City Manager is requested to report back to the City Council on the feasibility of converting portions of the 4th floor of City Hall, or some other under-utilized building space already owned by the City, into office space for the eight members of the City Council who do not currently have office space within City Hall. Vice Mayor Simmons and Councillor Cheung
This unnecessary Order will likely be approved on a unanimous or near-unanimous vote. It should be noted that during course of the last decade or so, city councillors were granted exclusive parking spaces behind City Hall (usually vacant), their own personal assistants (primarily campaign workers), and magnificent salary increases. The job description remains the same as it was in 1941. Note that the City Council budget has also increased 68% in 8 years. This Order rather absurdly asserts that city councillors lack sufficient space in City Hall. This doesn’t pass the sniff test.
Order #6. That the matter of Reconsideration in Rule Sixteen of the City Council Rules be referred to the Government Operations and Rules Committee for review. Councillor Maher
This is a good idea, especially since at least one councillor has chosen to file Reconsideration purely to delay matters that have been overwhelmingly supported. Some councillors appear to have never been acquainted with Robert’s Rules or Order or even the City Council’s own adopted rules. This is good for occasional comedy, but not so great for efficient meetings.
Order #10. That the City Manager is requested to confer with the appropriate departments to determine if Cambridge can take similar steps towards being re-certified to regulate basic cable costs in the City of Cambridge and to report back to the City Council. Councillor Toomey
I won’t hold my breath expecting anything to come of this. The Evil Empire of Comcast shall not yield. Besides, it’s not the "basic cable" costs that are the big problem with Comcast. It’s the fact that all the other cable packages are absurdly overpriced and the City is not legally permitted to negotiate any of those rates or selections. That’s why I dumped Comcast and use a roof antenna. – Robert Winters
I completely overlooked Applications & Petitions #4 – a zoning petition to amend the provisions relating to the Planned Unit Development (PUD) in the North Point Residence District.
Comment by Robert Winters — April 23, 2012 @ 5:48 pm