The city of Springfield Massachusetts will start the new fiscal year Monday, July 1st with a balanced budget.
Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno said the $572 million budget the city council approved this week by a 12 to 2 vote will maintain current municipal employment levels and keep core city services.
The budget funds a police academy of 22 recruits who will fill vacancies on the police force that resulted from retirements. The public libraries are being reorganized with two branches closing permanently, but longer hours at the remaining locations. Total spending is up less than 2 percent, as the city continues to struggle with declining property tax revenue.
