Commissioner Steve Rideout
swrideout@aol.com
May 2, 2019
Dear Readers:
Attached is a memo from the city manager that is going on the city website. It details some of the challenges that we have had in developing a budget that will address issues of concern to the city that are costing money that have come from unexpected increased costs for insurance, salaries, and effective services to the community. Included in the proposed budget will also be required cuts in department budgets to help keep the increase as low as reasonably possible.
There will be a meeting on May 9th at 5 p.m. at City Council chambers on Gay Street where we will be establishing the rate for Real Estate taxes and Personal Property Taxes. There is no plan to increase Personal Property Taxes.
There will be our first budget session on May 13th at 6 p.m. at our regular meeting that will have a number of other important matters on the agenda in addition to the budget. I encourage you to attend and let us know your views on the attached or how you feel that we can run the city with fewer dollars.
If you have questions, I am happy to talk with you to provide more detail on where I hope we come out with regard to a budget. This represents how can kicking that has taken place over many years as well as some unexpected expenses are impacting you this year. I also hope in the coming Fiscal Year to have us take action to address their cause and find less costly solutions.
As with any change that comes, some things must take place that are not popular with any, some, or most of the residents. If we are, however, going to continue to improve Cambridge, its economy, safety, and its housing, these are the kinds of costs that we are called upon to consider and make decisions on. Hearing from you will help us to decide what level of change you are ready to accept.
Steve