Here's a different way to handle cash
Maura Hennigan
West Roxbury Transcript - Thursday, June 23, 2005
An administration that
stays too long loses its ability to enact reform measures and provide bold
initiatives. In effect, it becomes stagnant. Proof of that lies in Mayor
Menino's fiscal 2006 budget.
A budget should be a reflection of a mayor's priorities. Our budget is $2
billion! That money should be more than enough to provide first-class
schools, strong public safety, adequate funding for innovative youth
programs and an affordable housing plan. Property taxes are continuing to
increase each year and trend that is projected to continue until 2008
unless something is done. Do you feel that you are getting your tax
dollars' worth back in city services? I certainly do not.
In a Hennigan administration, I will first call for an audit of each and every
department. I will immediately look to cities across this country to
determine if our present tax assessment system is the fairest and most
equitable one, and will seek to change it if it is not.
As a former Boston Public School teacher, education is and will continue to be
one of my biggest priorities. Our school budget is presently 35 percent of
our total budget and is our largest line item. Yet this administration
still ignores some of our schools' most basic needs. A recent example of
this can be found in the reconstructed Orchard Garden Elementary School in
Roxbury, where it was reported it took halfway into its second year for
many students to get textbooks.
Mayor Menino made a promise to build five new schools, but failed to follow
through on that commitment when he missed the window of opportunity to
apply for the 90 percent reimbursement the state offered municipalities
for building new schools. This was sloppy management on the part of the
mayor, and our children's education has suffered as a result.
Our public safety personnel numbers in the police department have been
decreasing in recent years. The number of sworn personnel has gone from
2,250, which according to former Commissioner Paul Evans is an optimum
level, to approximately 2,000 with an additional 100 out injured.
The small police classes scheduled this year will not address the growing
attrition. As a result, our citizens and others are left with inadequate
police protection. Shrinking state and federal resources should not be
used as excuse for the mayor to walk away from his responsibility to
provide the protection Boston residents deserve.
After 12 years, Mayor Menino does not have the necessary systems in place to
provide basic city services. Missing and faded crosswalks, potholed
streets and hazardous sidewalks, as well as poorly maintained parks and
public spaces, all speak to an administration that is not rising to the
challenge.
While the city's surpluses continue to grow, the administration has been too
conservative with Boston's reserve funds. There is more than $22 million
in pothole/street-cut money that is not being used appropriately. The city
has wasted millions of dollars by not coordinating the streets and
sidewalks resurfacing reconstruction and the street-cut programs.
The execution of courts line item has paid out millions of dollar to settle
lawsuits. Many of these payments could have been avoided with proper
management and policies. These are just more examples that shows that when
it comes to managing your tax dollars, the mayor has failed.
As your City Councilor, I find the mayor's budget proposal inefficient and
full of shortcomings. As your mayor, I will provide strong financial
leadership that will reform the city budget to create a vision that will
bring our city into the 21st century.
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