Setti Warren presents his fiscal 2017 budget

by | Apr 19, 2016 | Setti Warren | 6 comments

Newton Mayor Setti Warren delivered his fiscal year 2017 budget to the Newton City Council tonight. Here’s  what he had to say and here’s the budget

6 Comments

  1. Colleen Minaker
    Colleen Minaker on April 20, 2016 at 8:29 am

    I believe that Newton residents ought to be very concerned about this budget and the trend seen in the past 4 years. First the imbalance, school debt and spending is growing at an unsustainable rate. Low interest rates allow governments at all levels to spend carelessly. Ultimately, this propensity will hit a wall. This budget shows close to a 4 per cent increase in spending while the economy grows at less than half of 4 per cent. Why should the city side spending be $43 million less than the school side? Traditionally, they both have been the same. This significant increase in school spending is a mistake and must stop. New development will not solve the fiscal problem. More rational government fiscal policy is needed. If interest rates finally go up, Newton may find itself in deeper trouble than it already is with such long term debt.

  2. Colleen Minaker
    Colleen Minaker on April 20, 2016 at 8:29 am

    I believe that Newton residents ought to be very concerned about this budget and the trend seen in the past 4 years. First the imbalance, school debt and spending is growing at an unsustainable rate. Low interest rates allow governments at all levels to spend carelessly. Ultimately, this propensity will hit a wall. This budget shows close to a 4 per cent increase in spending while the economy grows at less than half of 4 per cent. Why should the city side spending be $43 million less than the school side? Traditionally, they both have been the same. This significant increase in school spending is a mistake and must stop. New development will not solve the fiscal problem. More rational government fiscal policy is needed. If interest rates finally go up, Newton may find itself in deeper trouble than it already is with such long term debt.

  3. fignewtonville
    fignewtonville on April 20, 2016 at 12:38 pm

    Colleen:

    I disagree on one point. I want the city to borrow money for capital projects now, when interest rates are insanely low. We are doing the right thing by pushing through rehab projects on our schools and institutions. I understand the concern about debt load and unfunded liabilities, but you can’t ignore capital needs as well. Now is the time to invest in our city, to fix roads/sidewalks, to rebuild our schools.

  4. fignewtonville
    fignewtonville on April 20, 2016 at 12:38 pm

    Colleen:

    I disagree on one point. I want the city to borrow money for capital projects now, when interest rates are insanely low. We are doing the right thing by pushing through rehab projects on our schools and institutions. I understand the concern about debt load and unfunded liabilities, but you can’t ignore capital needs as well. Now is the time to invest in our city, to fix roads/sidewalks, to rebuild our schools.

  5. Dan Fahey
    Dan Fahey on April 20, 2016 at 4:23 pm

    The NPS portion of the budget has actually been closer to 60% for some time now. And if you add in items like debt service attributable to the schools and a couple of other allocable expenses it’s over 60%.

  6. Dan Fahey
    Dan Fahey on April 20, 2016 at 4:23 pm

    The NPS portion of the budget has actually been closer to 60% for some time now. And if you add in items like debt service attributable to the schools and a couple of other allocable expenses it’s over 60%.