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October 10, 2008 - Mayor Domenic J. Sarno today said he is “hoping for the best but bracing for the worst” following insights gained during a mayors’ meeting with Governor Deval Patrick and Lt. Governor Timothy Murray regarding the future of state aid.
Mayor Sarno participated in the statewide mayors’ meeting via conference call from 2 to 3 p.m. today.
Sarno said the governor and lieutenant governor stressed that their Administration will try to hold harmless local aid and Chapter 70 funds for cities and towns throughout the Commonwealth.
“The governor and lieutenant governor said that cutting those two pockets of funding will be only a last resort,” said Sarno. “That is a gallant statement and I hope it is true but I have to be realistic and fiscally prudent in these tough economic times. The City of Springfield faces great exposure because we are so heavily dependent on those funds.”
Sarno said he expects Secretary of Finance and Administration Leslie Kerwin to provide further information regarding FY09 state funding by next week.
Chief of Staff Denise Jordan, Acting CFO TJ Plant and Finance Control Board Deputy Director Patricia Vinchesi participated in the meeting via conference call along with the Mayor in his office.
Sarno said he has been meeting with Plant over the past several weeks to consider worst-case budget scenarios should cuts occur. “My priority is to hold baseline services and avoid layoffs,” said Sarno.
Sarno added that he will try to steer clear of tapping into reserve funds in FY09. “FY10 is going to be the bell weather when reserves are really going to be needed,” he said.
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