BEVERLY — Mayor Bill Scanlon has submitted a $97.5 million budget for the fiscal year starting July 1, a 3.3 percent increase over the current budget.
The City Council is now reviewing the budget by meeting with department heads over the next two weeks. The council is scheduled to vote on a final budget on June 26.
The most controversial portion of the budget, the schools, will come up for discussion next Monday when Superintendent James Hayes is scheduled to meet with councilors.
Budget problems will result in the closing of McKeown Elementary School this year. Cove School could also close if councilors don't approve Scanlon's plan to provide an extra $680,000 to the schools.
Some councilors are wondering if it's better to close Cove this year and keep only four elementary schools, rather than risk the chance that Cove will have to close next year and force some students to change schools two years in a row.
The council has the authority to cut money from any department's budget, including the schools.
Scanlon told councilors last week that the city will combine the engineering department and the department of public services under Michael Collins, the current public services director. His new title will be director of public services and engineering. Engineering Director Frank Killilea recently retired and has been working part-time on special projects.
Scanlon, in a letter to councilors, said the merger "should generate efficiencies and result in a more comprehensive approach to all engineering issues including the conversion of much data to computer-based files."
"We will essentially operate the two departments as one service-friendly organization," Scanlon wrote.
Scanlon also said Endicott College will donate $110,000 per year to the city over the next three years. The college will also continue to donate $40,000 per year to the schools, and has agreed to pay real estate taxes on a recently acquired property on Hale Street, Scanlon said.
"These funds are intended to support the City of Beverly and serve to recognize that the college is important to the city and the city is important to the college," Scanlon wrote.
Mayor Bill Scanlon's Budget
Department Fiscal 2009 % increase
Public and Vocational Schools $46,078,113 5.9
Pensions/Insurance $15,883,655 1.3
Public Safety $12,150,493 2.3
Debt Service $7,646,058 0
General Government $4,803,933 1.2
Public Services $3,393,317 2.5
Community Services $3,126,171 2.9
State and County Assessments $1,873,047 5.9
Engineering and Sanitation $1,394,147 -3.8
Municipal Inspections $1,195,311 6.5
Total $97,544,245 3.3
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