Message from Mayor Rizzo Regarding the FY15 Budget
June 3, 2014
Recently, we submitted the Fiscal Year 2015 Budget for the edification and review of the Revere City Council. Every budget cycle brings with it, its own unique challenges, and opportunities. We continue to prioritize funding for our core tenets of public education, public safety, economic development, and the rebuilding of our aging infrastructure. We have continued to build on our new budgeting process with the support and assistance of the Edward J. Collins Center for Public Management at the University of Massachusetts. I would like to thank all of our department heads, and municipal staff, for their dedication and commitment to the new budget process.
We collectively, as a governing body need to make clear our priorities through the choices me make. In order to balance the budget this year we will have to use reserves. We can either layoff personnel or tap into our reserves. This budget makes the case for the latter.
Cities and towns across the Commonwealth, especially many of our neighboring communities, are dealing with budget increases in much the same way we are. Clearly, a major goal of my administration continues to be to further diversify our commercial tax base, in order to relieve the burden placed on our residential taxpayers. We could also use these new revenues to help provide essential city services.
Revere is on the rise. You can see it and you can feel it. Numerous public and private projects are either underway or in the planning stages. We recently broke ground at Wonderland Station on a high end luxury apartment complex with an investment in our community of nearly $43 million. We are also investing in much needed improvements and development along Broadway, through both public and private investment. This past year, through a very competitive grant program, we received $1.5 Million through a MassWorks grant. We will use these funds to assist us as we continue our revitalization efforts along Broadway, and throughout the city’s central business district.
Projects such as MOM’s Motorcycles, For Kids Only, Harley Davidson, and Market Basket are making significant improvements to the city’s overall commercial portfolio. With regards to market Basket, I do feel confident that we will see them open in the very near future. We are also fully engaged in the construction of the new Staff Sergeant James J. Hill School, brand new state-of-the-art Harry Della Russo Stadium, and three (3) new ball fields at St. Mary’s. These projects will provide greatly needed public space for school aged children and residents alike for years to come
As we look to the future, I know that this city’s best days lie ahead. We will continue our aggressive approach towards economic development in order to further stabilize our local economy. If we can work together for the betterment of the community and our neighborhoods- all things are possible.
As always if you have questions or comments you can call my office at 781-286-8111 or email revere_mayor@revere.org. You can also engage in the process on social media by following me on Twitter at @MayorDanRizzo.