Budget Conundrum
Some meetings require a PUBLIC notice.
From the Methuen City Charter;
Section 5-2. Action on the Budget.
(a) Public Hearing -
The City Council shall publish in one or more newspapers of general circulation in the City the general summary of the proposed budget as submitted by the Mayor by a notice stating:
(1) the times and places where copies of the proposed budget are available for inspection by the public, and
(2) the date, time and place, not less than two weeks after such publication, when a public hearing on said proposed budget will be held by the City Council.
Why is this interesting?
First because this notice appears to be required upon submittal of the budget by the mayor and requires a public hearing no earlier than two weeks later.
So what, I hear you saying.
Well the budget, by law, can be submitted as late as, June 20th each year.
( The actual date varies each year. It is set by statute as no later than 170 days after the organization date of the City. That date usually approximates to June 20th.)
The last day of the fiscal year is June 30th.
If we assume the budget is submitted at the last possible time and the public hearing cannot be done until two weeks (14 days) later, this puts the public hearing after the start of the new fiscal year.
Does the City close on July 1?
Ok, so, you say, let’s be creative and backdate the notice so the public hearing can be within the, roughly, 10 day window between June 20 and June 30.
Well if you do that don’t you violate the line above that states;
The City Council shall publish … the general summary of the proposed budget as submitted by the Mayor?
Doesn’t that imply that the notice should be published after the actual submittal of the budget to the Council? I suspect it does, but our elected officials seem not to agree.
Before we look at this years notices, Let me get to the second item of discussion.
The times and places where copies of the proposed budget are available for inspection.
The notice must contain a location (PLACES) where citizens can review the proposed budget prior to the public hearing. The TIMES when this public location is available must also be included.
Now let’s look at the two public notices from this year. There are two parts to the budget, the School and the City. Thus there are two public notices. Methuen posts their notices in the Lawrence Eagle Tribune, the only newspaper of general circulation in the city.
(please note; I understand that the following newspapers have a general circulation within Methuen. it is not my decision to use the Tribune or exclude these other publications. The Valley Patriot, Rumbo News & Methuen Life all publish within Methuen.)
Here is the notice for the School budget;
Methuen, Massachusetts NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING FISCAL
Methuen, Massachusetts NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING FISCAL YEAR 2012 SCHOOL SYSTEM BUDGET ESTIMATES Monday, June 13, 2011 6:45 PM Great Hall, Searles Building TO ALL CITIZENS OF METHUEN: Please be advised that the Methuen School Committee will hold a PUBLIC HEARING on Monday, June 13th at 6:45 PM in the Great Hall, Searles Building, 41 Pleasant St., Methuen, on its tentatively proposed budget estimates for Fiscal Year 2012 for the Methuen Public Schools. A general summary is shown below, along with this year’s approved budget estimates. PROPOSED APPROVED BUDGET BUDGET ESTIMATES FISCAL YEAR 2011 FISCAL YEAR 2012 CLASSIFICATION Professional Salaries: $40,006,748 $40,971,782 Classified Personnel Salaries: $1,682,779 $1,724,797 Other Salaries: $4,915,123 $5,197,508 Contractual Services: $10,007,826 $9,585,579 Supplies & Materials: $779,722 $760,547 Other Expenses: $64,575 $67,575 Municipal Charges: $11,083,835 $11,083,835 NET SCHOOL SPENDING $68,540,608 $69,381,124 Transportation: $3,240,873 $3,295,873 Community Service: $30,000 $30,000 Fixed Charges: $101,031 $101,031 Capital Outlay: $0 $0 TOTAL OPERATING BUDGET $71,912,512 $72,808,028 The budgetary adjustments represent an accommodation of school district academic needs, staffing level needs, and facility needs within each of the above designated account categories based on availability of operating revenue provided by the City and State. Copies if this proposed budget summary document are available for public examination at the Quinn Building, 90 Hampshire St., Methuen, MA 01844 ET Â 5/28/11
Looks like a lot of information.
Let’s parse it exactly as it is written and see if we can get a clear picture of what information is included and what is not.
Here is the simple parsed version;
Methuen, Massachusetts
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING FISCAL YEAR 2012 SCHOOL SYSTEM BUDGET ESTIMATES
Monday, June 13, 2011 6:45 PM Great Hall, Searles Building
TO ALL CITIZENS OF METHUEN:
Please be advised that the Methuen School Committee will hold a PUBLIC HEARING on Monday, June 13th at 6:45 PM in the Great Hall, Searles Building, 41 Pleasant St., Methuen, on its tentatively proposed budget estimates for Fiscal Year 2012 for the Methuen Public Schools.
A general summary is shown below, along with this year’s approved budget estimates.
PROPOSED APPROVED BUDGET
BUDGET ESTIMATES
FISCAL YEAR 2011 FISCAL YEAR 2012 CLASSIFICATION
Professional Salaries: $40,006,748 $40,971,782
Classified Personnel Salaries: $1,682,779 $1,724,797
Other Salaries: $4,915,123 $5,197,508
Contractual Services: $10,007,826 $9,585,579
Supplies & Materials: $779,722 $760,547
Other Expenses: $64,575 $67,575
Municipal Charges: $11,083,835 $11,083,835
NET SCHOOL SPENDING $68,540,608 $69,381,124
Transportation: $3,240,873 $3,295,873
Community Service: $30,000 $30,000
Fixed Charges: $101,031 $101,031
Capital Outlay: $0 $0
TOTAL OPERATING BUDGET $71,912,512 $72,808,028
The budgetary adjustments represent an accommodation of school district academic needs, staffing level needs, and facility needs within each of the above designated account categories based on availability of operating revenue provided by the City and State.
Copies if this proposed budget summary document are available for public examination at the Quinn Building, 90 Hampshire St., Methuen, MA 01844
ET Â 5/28/11
Well, it would appear that this complies with the Charter with only one shortcoming, the times when the Quinn Building will be open for this public inspection. That was pretty easy to review. It stated that the budget is tentative and proposed. The dates are well within the statatory boundaries.
(Just a quick aside–the Mayor is the Chairman of the School Committee. You might want to keep that in mind.)
Now, let’s look at the City side;
Here is the notice;
TO: The Mayor and Department Heads FROM: John A. Cronin, Council Chair RE: Fiscal Year 2012 Budget Workshops & Public Hearing Schedule The Public Hearing for the Fiscal Year 2012 Water and Sewer Enterprise Fund will be held on June 21, 2011, at 6:30 p.m. The Public Hearing on the Methuen Municipal Budget will be held on June 21, 2011 at 6:45 p.m. in the Great Hall, Searles Building. The following dates have been set for Workshops on the various Departmental Budgets. All Workshops will be held in the Great Hall and will begin at 6:00 p.m. June 14, 2011 (6:00 p.m.) June 20, 2011 (6:00 p.m.) City Council Greater Lawrence Technical High School City Clerk Methuen Schools Mayor Water & Sewer Enterprise Fund Human Resources Police Services Information Technology Fire Prevention Legal Services Emergency Management Historical Commission City Auditor Department of Public Works Assessment-Real & Personal Solid Waste Disposal Treasurer/Tax Collector Capital Improvement Program Reserve Fund Bonds & Interest NOTE: Municipal Budget will be Employee Benefits Insurance available for review in the Non-Contributory Retirement City Council Office Contributory Retirement June 21, 2011 Public Hearing Community Development Sewer & Water Enterprise – 6:30 p.m. Conservation Inspectional Services June 21, 2011 Public Hearing Health Services Municipal Operating Budget – 6:45 p.m. Elder Affairs Nevins Library June 21, 2011 Special Meeting Recreation Services Second Read – Resolutions – 7:00 p.m. Veterans’ Benefits & Services Municipal Operating Budget ET Â 5/27/11
Wow, looks pretty daunting!
Here is the simple parse, as far as I could get, anyway;
TO: The Mayor and Department Heads
FROM: John A. Cronin, Council Chair
RE: Fiscal Year 2012 Budget Workshops & Public Hearing Schedule
The Public Hearing for the Fiscal Year 2012 Water and Sewer Enterprise Fund will be held on June 21, 2011, at 6:30 p.m.
The Public Hearing on the Methuen Municipal Budget will be held on June 21, 2011 at 6:45 p.m. in the Great Hall, Searles Building.
The following dates have been set for Workshops on the various Departmental Budgets.
All Workshops will be held in the Great Hall and will begin at 6:00 p.m.
June 14, 2011 (6:00 p.m.)
June 20, 2011 (6:00 p.m.)
City Council
Greater Lawrence Technical High School
City Clerk
Methuen Schools
Mayor
Water & Sewer Enterprise Fund
Human Resources
Police Services
Information Technology
Fire Prevention
Legal Services
Emergency Management
Historical Commission
City Auditor
Department of Public Works
Assessment-Real & Personal
Solid Waste Disposal
Treasurer/Tax Collector
Capital Improvement Program [editor-separate issue at later date]
Reserve Fund
Bonds & Interest
NOTE: Municipal Budget will be
Employee Benefits Insurance
available for review in the
Non-Contributory Retirement
City Council Office
Contributory Retirement
June 21, 2011 Public Hearing
Community Development
Sewer & Water Enterprise – 6:30 p.m.
Conservation Inspectional Services
June 21, 2011 Public Hearing
Health Services
Municipal Operating Budget – 6:45 p.m.
Elder Affairs
Nevins Library
June 21, 2011 Special Meeting
Recreation Services
Second Read – Resolutions – 7:00 p.m.
Veterans’ Benefits & Services
Municipal Operating Budget
ET Â 5/27/11
Notice that there are no numbers or any real summary.
The reason why is that the notice was posted well prior to the Mayor submitting the proposed budget. The proposed budget was submitted on June 13th just prior to the first Workshop.
There is no note that the budget is tentative.
I am sure I could do a more comprehensive parse and arrive at;
NOTE: Municipal Budget will be available for review in the City Council Office.
However, there still is no time announced when this office is open for such a review.
Also, if I read the notice on the publication date and went to the Office, there is nothing to review.
See the little line at the end, that states, Second Read – Resolutions – 7:00 p.m?
Well, what did the first read state?
Maybe all the information I need as a citizen to make an informed decision is there!
Here is the Agenda items from 6/6/2011
(remember the budget wasn’t turned in until 6/13/2011)
10. NEW BUSINESS
Resolutions:
1. TR-11-31 Resolution Providing for the Adoption of the Fiscal Year 2012 General Government Budget Link to Proposed Resolution TR-11-31
2. TR-11-32 Resolution Providing for the Adoption of the Fiscal Year 2012 School Department Budget
3. TR-11-33 Resolution Providing for the Adoption of the Fiscal year 2012 Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical High School Budget
4. TR-11-34 Resolution Providing for the Adoption of the Fiscal Year 2012 Sewer and Water Enterprise Budget
Notice that if you open the link to the resolutions, it starts off by stating that the Mayor has submitted a budget per statute. Of course all the requisite numbers are there.
It is no use complaining to your Councilor.
They tell you it is a procedural issue.
I disagree.
If you voted in favor of these resolutions you are doing a disservice to your constituents.
It states that a budget has been submitted. It was not but you voted to state it was.
Do you not see the lie in your vote?
Then note that no numbers are in the resolution. They are TO BE DETERMINED LATER.
It doesn’t even state that!
At least that statement would be a step in the correct direction. Voting on a resolution with no numbers and the implication that they are forthcoming is analogous, in my mind, to signing a blank check.
When I asked my Councilor why he approved a resolution with no numbers it was ” I have never done that” and when pointed out, it was ” that’s just procedural”.
I think changes need to be made….
Look up the term meme and the discussion about memetics.
I posit that getting elected to the culture on this City Council is deleterious to the citizens of Methuen. There is a poor model of cultural information transfer that allows numerous violations of statutory procedure that disallow the citizen to be accounted for in the actual financial life of this government.
(as a side note–someone has posited that the budget is inviolate. No cuts can be made due to statutory reasons. I posit that you can find out exactly what the inviolate rules are by setting all department budgets to zero and then pass that budget back to the Mayor.)