Page 8 THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JULY 21, 2023 Morabito will reject developer contributions; calls on other Mayoral candidates to do the same R evere Councillor-at-Large and mayoral candidate Steve Morabito has announced that he will not accept fi nancial contributions from developers or individuals associated with the real estate sector in his Mayoral campaign. He is also calling on every Mayoral candidate to sign a pledge that they will not accept similar contributions, and that they will return all development-based contributions from 2023. Morabito said, “Development in Revere has significantly impacted our communities and residents in recent years. The rapid growth and expansion in the past decade have led to various challenges, including increased housing costs, gentrifi cation, and strained infrastructure. The frustration levels among residents are palpable, as they see their neighborhoods transforming without adequate consideration for their needs and concerns.” He continued, “Revere residents must be able to trust that the development process is fair and prioritizes transparency, community input, and accountability. With at least one candidate receiving in excess of $30,000 in contributions from the real estate development industry in just the ~ OP-ED ~ A Budget That Serves the City By Acting Mayor Patrick M. Keefe L ast month the City Council responsibly approved the $262.1-million budget that I submitted earlier in June. The vote culminated a rigorous process that demonstrated how our residents are served when the city’s various executive Departments work in harmony with our legislative branch, the City Council. When I became Acting Mayor in April, one of my fi rst duties was to meet with every Department head to examine, analyze, and forecast their fi nancial needs in Fiscal Year 2024—which runs July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024. This process considers staff - ing, municipal growth, and the importance of every service that municipal government provides for its people. Each Department head was then individually interrogated by members of the City Council Ways and Means Committee during a series of public hearings. The Councilors, holders of the City’s fi nancial purse strings, necessarily view budget requests with their constituents as their primary concern. The Council has the authority to reject or reduce budget line items. The objective is a budget that meets the city’s needs effi ciently and economically. The Council sliced just $10,000 (0.0000381 per cent) from my original budget request of $262,146,012, so I would say we agreed universally on the budget. What does $262.1-million fund? • Almost half, $124 million, funds the public schools and Revere’s share of Northeast Metro Tech, where 253 Revere residents are enrolled. The money includes state funding that will allow the schools to hire 97 new employees. • $31m for public safety, which will continue existing service levels and: — Add 11 new fire fighters to bring total head count to 119 — Add 5 new police officers to bring total head count to 115 — Increase inspections to enforce the City’s Short Term Rental ordinances. — Implement City-wide resident sticker program that ensures that only cars registered in the city are parking on our streets at night. • $9.2m for general government that will fund all city offi ces, including: — Financial software to integrate all city offi ces that handle payments; — An Election Department that registers some 3000 new voters annually and processes over 16,000 census forms and over 5000 early-voting ballots; — Revere 3-1-1, that handles over 36,000 constituent issues annually — Management and oversight of over 30,000 linear feet of rehabilitated sanitary sewer main drain. The list goes on: $4.7 million in public works, $2.5 million in health and human services, $1.7 million for libraries, parks and recreation, and Elder Services. And then there is health insurance for employees, casualty insurance, pension payments. It is a signifi cant fi nancial responsibility to operate a government that serves some 60,000 residents. Partnership between the Executive branch and the Legislative branch produces the most comprehensive and cost-effective way to pay for it all. I am pleased that the budget I submitted met with overwhelming support and approval by the City Council. That’s the best way to serve the City. past three months, voters are left to wonder whose interests the next Mayor will have.” Morabito said, “Together, we should set an example of principled leadership and ensure that the upcoming election truly represents the will and aspirations of the residents. I am confi dent that by standing united in our commitment to transparency and the welfare of our city, we can forge a better future for all.” The pledge calls on all refunds to take place by the July 31 campaign finance filing deadline so voters have adequate time to see who takes transparency seriously.
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