Quincy budget approved, councilors protest lack of support by mayor for equity department
QUINCY — The city budget was approved just a week before the end of the fiscal year Thursday evening following two nights of departmental budget hearings where city councilors cut roughly $668,664 from the mayor's initial proposal.
Mayor Thomas Koch presented a $346.6 million budget to city councilors in May, but budget hearings did not start until this week. The budget relied on the passing of a $475 million bond to fund the city's pension system, which was not approved by councilors until Monday. The budget must be approved each year ahead of the fiscal year start on July 1.
Councilors ultimately approved a $345.9 million budget, nearly $6 million more than last year.
Two councilors — Brian Palmucci and Anne Mahoney — voted against the budget.
Noel DiBona said this year was the "most exciting" budget cycle in his time on the council.
"We cut $669,089, it's the most I think we've ever cut as a council. I think the tide is changing," he said. "I think the council has gotten very strong as a group. We have a lot of different personalities and I thought we really shined as a group. ... I haven't felt this way in a long time."
Several city councilors took issue with the $882,298 mayor's budget, level funded from the year before, because it did not include money for a director of social justice and equity. Palmucci, Ward 4 councilor, asked why the the city could hire 30 to 40 new employees but not appoint someone to that position.
City councilors voted earlier this year to create such a position, but the mayor said he's not sure it's necessary. Instead, he vowed to appoint a commission to examine race relations and equity in the city. Chris Walker, Koch's chief of staff, said that commission will meet for the first time on July 8 and members will be announced next week.
"Some of this needs to be fleshed out a little bit more. I hate to put words in his mouth, but, in his mind, the concept of a department or a position was not fully fleshed out," Walker said of the mayor. "He has put together a commission that is fully appointed and will be meeting in the next couple of weeks to really drill down on this particular issues and, if at the end of the day that commission recommends a position, that's what the city is going to do... The door has been left open."
Palmucci said "the city is ready" for such a position, but the mayor himself is not.
"I am disappointed that the mayor has not relied upon the many residents who have spoken to him or the nine councilors who voted on it," he said. "There is a lot in this budget that I support and there is very little that I don't support. I'm voting 'no' purely because of the unfunded position. ... That's the reason I'm going to vote against the budget this year despite there being so many very positive things in it."
Quincy City Council President Nina Liang said she appreciated the conversations the mayor has had surrounded the idea of a department of social justice and equity, but that she would not support a budget for the mayor's office that doesn't fund one.
"I think I've been really clear about my stance on the need for this kind of work," Liang said. "If residents are asking for something and it is something we all supported and got behind, then I would like to see it move forward and happen, and I look forward to hopefully when it does."
The budget for the mayor's office was ultimately approved by a vote of 6 to 3. Palmucci and Mahoney voted against, as did Liang. Liang did vote to approve the budget as a whole.
Mahoney said a lack of transparency is what kept her from voting "yes" on the final budget total.
Barring any special council meetings called over the summer, the board will not meet again until Monday, Sept. 13.
Original Source: https://www.patriotledger.com/story/news/2021/06/25/quincy-2022-budget-does-not-include-equity-department/5342325001/
