Page 14 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – Friday, May 17, 2019 MAYOR | FROM PAGE 1 largest budget increases are in schools at seven percent and fixed costs at five percent. Fixed costs include debt service, pension costs, and health insurance. In order to balance the FY 2020 budget and address rising costs, we are proposing an efficient and effective spending blueprint. Setting aside schools and fixed costs, our departments average a zero percent increase over last year’s budget. In fact, the total expenditure for the departments for which I have direct administrative control is actually $79,248 lower than the total last year. To promote strong fiscal stewardship, we are restructuring departments and reducing ineffective staff positions. At the same time, we are adding staff positions most critical to addressing the current needs of our community. This includes the creation of two new positions: a mental health clinician and an affordable housing manager. This budget is also a reflection of the strong economic growth that is happening in our city right now, and the growing partnerships that we have built and nurtured over the last several years. These partnerships are with the people here in this room, across levels of government, and with the private and nonprofit sectors. None of us can get much done working alone, but we see so much success when we work with one another. Together, we have done much to ensure our fiscal health. Everett is growing at a rapid rate, and we continue to witness a large number of public and private investments in our city. These investments enhance the quality of life for all of our residents by adding to our tax base and generating the revenues needed to improve the delivery of essential public services. Because of these investments, we are a safer City, a more educated City, a City where businesses are growing and creating jobs, a City with a strong, effective public school system, and a City that communities across the nation look to for ideas and inspiration. However, we must continue to work together to do everything in our power to ensure that our longtime residents can afford to remain in their homes. I understand how important and truly personal housing affordability is to our community. That is why we have worked hard to ensure that taxpayer money is spent wisely, and why we will continue to be careful fiscal stewards of all public funds. In fact, because of our prudent fiscal policies, the average single family tax bill in Everett is the second lowest in the Metro-Boston region. I am proud that Standard & Poor’s Global Ratings assigned an AA+ long-term rating to the City of Everett for the third year in a row. In issuing this rating, S & P cited the city’s strong management, strong budgetary performance with operating surpluses, very strong budgetary flexibility, very strong liquidity, and low overall net debt. This matters because a positive rating like ours saves us millions of dollars when we bond for large capital improvement projects. When the state budget is finalized and free cash is approved, I will be submitting a request to the Council to increase our stabilization fund. This will help to ensure that we maintain our excellent bond rating. As you know, over the past two years, we have been forced to draw down this critically important account in order to deal with school budget deficits. We have much to appreciate about the state of our finances. In the past year, the City of Everett secured millions of dollars in grant funding, supporting infrastructure, public health, parks, and technology, among others. In the coming weeks, we will issue a certificate of occupancy for the Encore Boston Harbor resort – and this will be followed by a long-anticipated opening day. This past year, we received our final pre-opening payment of $12.5 million, and we will soon see the enormous benefits on this $2.8 billion economic engine. This development has returned to productive reuse a formerly blighted and contaminated Monsanto site, kick-started the transformation of the Lower Broadway region of Everett, and created thousands of jobs for our residents and beyond. Soon, we will receive significant PILOT payments and additional tax revenue. Our great forward momentum continues to build. We were once again named one of the top 10 places in Massachusetts to live by Boston Globe Magazine, and number one north of Boston. Our home values increased by record amounts, and we provided approximately $30 million in tax relief to our residents. We innovated and improved our designated bus lane with raised platforms and prioritized signals for buses travelling down Broadway. In partnership with Encore, we will soon have a free community shuttle connecting Everett residents to the Silver Line in Chelsea, and to the heart of our city. Mobility is the key to sustained economic development and enhanced quality of life for our residents. Capital projects have remained a priority over the past year, ranging from facilities to infrastructure. We renovated the Hancock Street Fire Station, and the Central Fire Station renovation is currently underway. We have renovated numerous parks for the enjoyment of children and families, and expanded our open spaces. We are completing construction on both a new playground at RiverGreen and almost two miles of connected pathways along the Malden and Mystic Rivers – COUNCILLORS | FROM PAGE 1 with the councillors. “I’m disgusted, this has been going on for quite some time,” said McKinnon, adding that a representative from the State Police Marine Unit had also been invited. “When we make a request, we want those people here. This should have been done months ago; we’re getting close, this thing is happening in June.” McKinnon also said he did not appreciate the council being left out of the loop about outside traffic meetings. “This body should have every idea – what’s going on,” he said. Councillor-at-Large Wayne Matewsky echoed McKinnon’s sentiments. “There’s a big blockage here and I don’t get it. It’s unfortunate that the harbormaster isn’t here. I’m very disappointed,” he said. “There are going to be thousands of boats; they’re going to open that bridge like nobody’s business.” Kevin O'Donnell, chief of staff for Mayor Carlo DeMaria, did not have an immediate answer as to why the invited guests were turned away. opening up the waterfront for the first time in generations. We are also in the final design stage for completion of the Northern Strand Community Trail. Although our school system faced difficulties over the past year, our faculty, staff, and students have demonstrated great resiliency. Our school system continues to be ranked as one of the best urban districts in the state. In the coming fiscal year, I know we will see even more of the growth and the progress that we saw in this past year. Many believe, as do I, that this year will be known as the point in time when the fortunes of the city turned, and Everett became not just another neighbor of Boston – but rather a destination for visitors and an exciting place for both new and longtime residents to call home. This past year has been a strong one for the City of Everett, but my greatest excitement is in the knowledge that there is more yet to come. I believe that the FY 2020 City budget is fully in line with this vision, and I strongly urge adoption of the entire proposed budget package. I look forward to working with you in the coming weeks to enact the FY 2020 spending plan, so that all of our residents may experience the realization of the vision we share for our exceptional city. Sincerely, Carlo DeMaria, Mayor City of Everett Speaking specifically about the casino, Matewsky said he and other city officials spent two hours touring Encore on May 8, adding that it took 30 minutes to get to the casino from City Hall and 25 minutes to return. He also said that during the tour, he was never offered so much as a bottle of water. “I was insulted, this is a big deal,” said Matewsky. “Maybe they don’t like me over there.” Ward 6 Councillor Michael McLaughlin said there has been a similar breakdown in communication in terms of starting a program for residential parking stickers. “There’s a lot of interception going on,” he said. “There’s a step in-between that’s missing.” In response, O’Donnell said he and his colleagues have met with the council several times since February to discuss rolling out a residential parking sticker program. However, Councillor-at-Large Peter Napolitano said the updates from the city have been vague. “Yes, you been up here, but all we’ve heard is that there are meetings,” he said. “Right now, I can’t get a straight answer.”
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