THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2020 Page 3 Anzuoni leaves behind a legacy of public service A By Barbara Taormina fter 42 years of municipal budgets, bonds and taxes, George Anzuoni, the city’s treasurer, director of finance and chief administrative officer, is moving on to the next act and whatever life has in store for him. Friday is Anzuoni’s last day at City Hall, and although he has no plans for Saturday, daughters Nicole, Rebecca and Christina and grandkids Charlotte, Nolan and Thatcher may have already worked up a schedule. “City Hall will not be the same without George Anzuoni,” said Mayor Brian Arrigo. “For nearly half a century, George has devoted his talents and his energy to keeping the City of Revere on solid fi nancial footing. He has been the ultimate protector of the City’s treasury; he has been our vigilant Collector of taxes who made sure that everyone paid their fair share.” Anzuoni began working for the City of Revere on Feb. 22, 1978, in the wake of New England’s great blizzard. “I was in charge of overseeing the high school while trying my best to take care of people,” he recalled. “That went on for fi ve or six days, but after that we had to get down to business.” At the top of Anzuoni’s “To do” list was Revere’s bond rating, which, back in 1978, didn’t exist. “The city had no bond rating at all,” he recalled. So Anzuoni buried himself in spread sheets, cash fl ow statements, spending reports, revenue projections and all the othGeorge Anzuoni Retiring as city treasurer er information that goes into the mix of establishing a bond rating. By 1979, Revere’s bond rating was restored, and today it stands at AA+, the second highest rating assigned by the major credit rating agencies. “One more step will give us the highest rating,” said Anzuoni, who considers restoring Revere’s credit as one of his biggest accomplishments. But there were many other challenges and achievements in Anzuoni’s long career that lasted through fi ve diff erent mayors and administrations. “In the 80s, we had to deal with Prop 2½, which changed the way we did our budgets,” recalled Anzuoni. During the fi rst year of the law that limited increases on property taxes, Revere was forced to cut 23 city employees. But Anzuoni found a way to work with the new constraints, and over the next two years he was able Revere announces Early Voting beginning February 24 E arly voting is available to all registered voters for the Presidential Primary on Tuesday, March 3, 2020. Registered voters wishing to cast an early ballot may do so in person at the American Legion Building, 249 Broadway, Front Entrance, Revere, Mass., from Monday, February 24, 2020, until Friday, February 28, 2020. The hours of early voting are Monday through Thursday from 8:15 a.m.–5:00 p.m. and Friday from 8:15 a.m.–12:15 p.m. To vote early by mail contact the Election Department at 781-286-8200 to request an application. —Board of Election Commissioners Votacion Temprana L a votación temprana está disponible para todos los votantes registrados para la Primaria Presidencial, del martes 3 de marzo de 2020. Los votantes registrados que deseen emitir una votación temprana pueden hacerlo en persona en el edifi cio American Legion, 249 Broadway, por la entrada del frente, Revere, Mass., desde el lunes 24 de febrero de 2020 hasta el viernes 28 de febrero de 2020. Las horas de la votación temprana son de lunes a jueves de 8:15 a.m. –5:00 p.m. y viernes de 8:15 a.m.–12:15 p.m. Para votar temprano por correo, comuníquese con el Departamento de Elecciones al 781-286-8200 para solicitar una solicitud. —Junta de Comisionados Electorales. to bring everyone back. Revere’s annual budget grew from $60 million to $230 million. And that growth is just one of the many changes he helped usher into the city. “Municipal finance laws haven’t changed that much,” he said, adding that the big moves came with the advances in technology. “We computerized the city’s system in 1988,” he recalled. “That was a major change.” Anzuoni was able to boost municipal revenue with an aggressive and highly successful collection system that is still in use today. “Our collection rate is 99.1 percent,” he said, adding that he also streamlined the city’s foreclosure process. Anzuoni also managed the fi - nancing of a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency consent decree that required Revere to invest $50 million in its wastewater system. His steady and careful management of Revere’s money brought plenty of progress to the city, including fi ve ANZUONI | SEE PAGE 9 Start Your Weekend at the Marina Dance Party! Saturday, February 22 at 9 PM Dance to the Hits from House to Techno DJ LOGIK Friday, February 21 at 9 PM MONDAY'S SHUCK! $1.00 Oysters Book your next Function with us! Free Parking • Water Views Call 781-629-3798 SUNDAY BRUNCH BUFFET Only $19.95 / 11am-2pm Featuring Al Whitney Jazz Band BOOK YOUR NEXT FUNCTION WITH US * GIFT CARDS AMPLE FREE www.marinaatthewharf.com 543 North Shore Rd. Revere 781-629-3798 PARKING AMAZING WATER VIEWS Dance to the Huge Hits with.. 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