Donnelly on the Budget

Late yesterday afternoon, mayoral candidate/City Councilor Thomas Donnelly fired off a press release outlining some of his plans to manage the city's finances as mayor. Some of it, like the CFO, we've heard before. Other parts of it -- like the budget advisory group -- we haven't. It's below in its entirety. The campaign also doled out a new photo of the candidate, which is what you are looking at here. Enjoy.

Donnelly Addresses Future Fiscal Issues

(Fitchburg) Thomas Donnelly
candidate for Mayor of Fitchburg today offered his
ideas to address future
city fiscal problems.

“Fitchburg needs a mayor who is proactive not
reactive, proper planning and review
will allow us to avoid future fiscal
problems. I believe this is a first step to moving Fitchburg forward. The hard
working men and women of Fitchburg deserve a city government that has its own
house in order so we can provide the vital and important city services they
deserve” said Donnelly.

Donnelly proposals include:
Upon election as
Mayor, the creation of a Budget Advisory Group that would
be comprised of
financial experts from the community such as Bankers, CPA’S and
other
business leaders as well as key city officials including the Auditor, Assessor
and Treasurer. The advisory group would also have a representative of the
City Council
to improve communication between the Council and the Mayor.
This group would meet
regularly and review and advise the Mayor on the
city’s financial position.

Create a five year financial plan for the
city that will include realistic revenue
projections, cost increases,
building and personnel needs and specifically take into account the changes in
Fitchburg’s demographics, population, housing stock and
health care costs
and other factors that might affect the financial future of the city.

Create the position of Chief Financial Officer. This title would be
given to an existing
city official and not create a new position. This
position would give city government
more central review and supervision over
city finances.

Submit a balanced budget to the city council every year,
based on realistic revenue
projections. The budget process would include
participation by my advisory group,
the chief financial officer and city
department heads.

Begin a immediate updated review of all city financial
investments and develop ways to invest the taxpayers money at the highest rate
of return in particular our retirement funds.

Donnelly stated that
“Fitchburg cannot continue the failed straight line style
of budget
management that exists now. Through the combination of proposals,
the
advisory group, a chief financial officer, a five year budget plan and a more
open budget process, I believe we can and will solve our cities fiscal problems
and begin the effort of moving Fitchburg forward.”