Page 8 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, JunE 6, 2025 BUDGET | FROM PAGE 1 how to invest the fi nancial resources available to us in ways that will benefi t our community. The needs of our residents are what inform all the budget decisions we make. This budget continues to invest in our physical infrastructure, our public safety resources, and the fi xed costs that come with being an employer. The budget also includes recommended investments to support our youth, including an expanded focus on increasing the support we provide them in the area of workforce development and readiness. We are presenting a budget that addresses the services that our residents rely on City government to provide while still focused on balancing government spending and serving as a fi scal fi duciary of our residents and continue to prioritize and support the community’s most vulnerable, including our elderly and veterans, through a range of dedicated services and programs.” More specifically, DeMaria informed the City Council, “Excluding schools and fi xed costs, departmental budgets reflect a more moderate average increase of 3%. Personnel expenses have risen by 5%, while operating expenses have decreased by 4%, reflecting If We Happen To Meet By Accident ... You’ll Be Glad You Found Us! There is a difference between the rest and the BEST! Celebrating 46 Years In Business! 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The Department of Public Works budget is $16,991,272. In its eight sections, $5,149,090 is for Solid Waste; $2,842,492 for the Facilities Division; $2,748,214 for the Executive Division; $2,630,724 for Parks and Cemeteries; $1,828,879 for the Highway Division; $1,170,373 for the Engineering Division; $585,000 for Snow and Ice and $36,500 for Everett Stadium. The Police budget is rising from $20,256,111.25 in Fiscal Year 2025 to $21,793,204 in Fiscal Year 2026, including increases in salaries from $19,777,342 to $20,970,829 and increases in a number of expenses, including Animal Control from $7,800 to $50,000 and Ticket Printing from $21,000 to $30,000. Even Meals for Prisoners are going up: from $5,500 to $6,500. In discussion at the City Council’s Budget Subcommittee (of the Whole) meeting Tuesday, June 3, Council President and Ward 2 Councillor Stephanie Martins asked Police Chief Paul Strong if the number of employees, about 125, is adequate for proper deployment around the city. “I don’t want to give away any tactical information, but we have a suffi cient amount of offi cers working each shift,” he answered. Martins also asked if there were plans to euthanize found dogs, a rumor around the city. “I can’t support that,” she said. “That is not accurate,” Strong answered. “I don’t know where you’re getting that information, but we are not euthanizing dogs. If a dog is not claimed, we call Animal Rescue.” He explained that rising expenses in Animal Control are due to using a new kennel in Revere, which is staff ed around the clock. “One of my concerns is Everett doesn’t have its own kennel,” Councillor-at-Large Katy Rogers interjected. “Is there a way we could do that?” Strong answered that some communities do have their own kennels, but establishing a municipal one in Everett would require a study and expenses. Rogers also asked if any of the budget is being used to aid the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency. “Not at all,” Strong answered. “We are not using any funds to aid ICE.” “That will be a relief to a lot of our constituents,” Rogers feels. Councillor-at-Large Guerline Alcy Jabouin asked Strong if ICE agents are meeting in the police station. Strong told her, “Sometimes they do to get their assignments and leave, and we don’t see them for the rest of the day.” “Are we sharing information with them?” Alcy Jabouin continued. “No,” Strong answered. She also asked about provisions to hire Everett residents in the Police Department. “Anyone who takes the test has to be a resident of Everett,” Strong answered, but DeMaria added that people can move to Everett, take the test to apply for a job and then move out. “I don’t like that, but Everett has a sought-after Police Department,” he said. “It’s probably the most sought-after in the Commonwealth.” Strong said the support of the community for the Police Department is one reason for that. In further discussion, DeMaria said it might be possible to bargain with the unions over the issue, but he isn’t sure it’s legal to require a specifi c term of residency. The Fire Department budget is rising from $17,952,824.57 in Fiscal Year 2025 to $18,253,770 in Fiscal Year 2026, including salaries rising from $17,260,317 to $17,633,270. However, the line item for Ambulance Services is dropping from $125,000 to $0. “We had an operating fund to pay for expenses, but it’s started to generate its own funding,” Fire Chief John Hickey explained.
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