Tight budgets mean cuts in schools, public works in Medford and elsewhere

Mayor Michael MyGlynn talking budget cuts at Tuesday's press conference.

By Travis Andersen
Town Correspondent

The budget for the fiscal year beginning Wednesday will force eight teacher layoffs in Medford, Police Department cuts, and belt-tightening at the city's Department of Public Works, among other lowlights.

On Tuesday, the Council passed a $129.8 million budget for fiscal 2010, down more than $2 million from fiscal 2009.

The Medford cuts were among many that surfaced this week, as cities and towns across the state began to put in place the state budget that went into effect with the start of the fiscal year on July 1.

Malden expects to lose 52 positions from its school department. Melrose expects its public works operation to take a hit. And statewide, cities and towns will absorb a $40-million cut in the Quinn Bill funding that boosts salaries of police officers with college degrees.

At a press conference earlier in the day, Medford Mayor Michael McGlynn said officials worked hard to save as much cash as possible in the face of a global economic crisis – but their hands were tied.

“The (budget) process itself was not a good process,” McGlynn said, noting that state aid will drop considerably in the next year.

He then listed a few painful cuts, including $1.3 million from the schools, $600,000 from the police, and $500,000 from public works.

Superintendent Roy Belson has repeatedly cited diminishing state aid as a prime driver of the school cuts. He also took aim at charter schools during a special meeting with the Council on Tuesday.

“If charter schools weren’t there we’d be doing real well,” Belson said, noting that roughly $3 million in state aid earmarked for local charters would instead go to traditional public schools in Medford, if they didn’t have to compete for the money.

The $43 million school budget will force eight teacher layoffs, though none in the elementary grades. The teacher’s union has agreed to a one-year pay freeze, but narrowly rejected a proposal last week to pay more for health insurance. Officials say they could have saved more jobs with the added concession. The union did not return calls.

The DPW cut comes after residents have petitioned the Council for repairs to neighborhood roads. Councilors have recently filed resolutions urging the department to fix several damaged roads, paint crosswalks, and make other improvements. Incoming DPW commissioner John Buckley did not return calls.

Police will not see layoffs as part of their $10.2 million budget, though the cut comes after calls for increased speed limit enforcement in certain neighborhoods, among other services. Police Chief Leo Sacco, Jr. did not return messages.

Before approving the budget unanimously on Tuesday, several councilors chided McGlynn for making revenue estimates while assuming they’d pass an increase to the room and meals tax, a proposal they’ve yet to see in writing.

“I’m not sold on the meals tax,” said Councilor Michael Marks.

Councilor Robert Maiocco predicted he and his colleagues would tweak the budget during the year.

“It’s not a budget, it’s a crisis document,” he said.