The City Council in Springfield, Massachusetts is preparing to tackle the $629 million budget proposed by the city’s mayor.
The first of what is expected to be at least four meetings to review the proposed spending department-by-department has been scheduled for Tuesday May 30th by City Council President Orlando Ramos.
The budget proposed by Mayor Domenic Sarno calls for hiring more police officers and firefighters and keeping the status quo with city services and programs.
"The budget goes up less than 2 percent," said Sarno.
The mayor proposes to add $5 million to the city’s $40 million cash reserve account and directs $58 million toward reducing the city’s unfunded pension liability.
By law, the City Council can only cut spending proposed by the mayor.
