City asks Somerville residents to weigh in on budget

On June 9, 2010, in Uncategorized, by The News Staff

By Tom Nash

As Mayor Joseph Curtatone confronts an estimated $8.1 million budget gap, the city is seeking input from residents about their priorities as his administration eyes how to cut costs.

A survey has been put online asking residents to choose from nine budget priorities, and also seeks opinions on how services can be improved without increasing costs.

"Understanding the values and concerns of our citizens is essential in running an effective city government," Curtatone said in a press release. "Plus, we have a lot of people in this city with good ideas and, now more than ever, we need to hear from them."

City Communications Director Michael Meehan said this is the first time the city has sought resident input before the budget has been created. In the past, the public has only had the option of weighing in at hearings held by the Board of Aldermen as they deliberate on possible cuts.

"The idea is that, as we get feedback, we'll be looking at what people think are the most important services we deliver," Meehan said. "We'll work to continue to deliver them at a level people expect."

With FY11 set to begin July 1, Ward 2 Alderman Marryan Heuston, who chairs the Committee on Finance, said she will look into how the board will be able to use the data collected.

"I think it's a good thing, but there's a timing issue here," Heuston said. "It's not like we have months and months to deliberate on something. We've got roughly two weeks."

The survey is available at www.fy11budget.speedsurvey.com. No deadline for submissions has been announced, but the budget is expected to be presented to the Board of Aldermen on June 15.