Gardner MA Council President Kazinskas on the Budget Process
Gardner Mayor Nicholson is beginning to meet with Department Heads to prepare for the Fiscal Year 2024 budget. Fiscal Year 2024 starts on July 1, 2024. According to Council President Kazinskas who appeared on WGAW’s Hotline Radio, “The City Council’s piece of the budget typically comes in the end of April to mid May, that’s when we start. The Mayor will submit his budget to us, and that’s after he’s certainly done plenty of pre-work along with his department heads to go over what their budget asks are. He’ll present his budget to the Council, we’ll also get a presentation from the School Department, and then from there we break off into our subcommittees and each subcommittee oversees different departments within the City or areas of the City….”
“We will meet with Department Heads, have them explain their budget asks, look at the difference, if any, between theirs and what the Mayor put forward….And after all those meetings happen, we need to vote on the FY2024 Budget by the end of the fiscal year…” Kazinskas also stated that since the appointments of the members of the Special Act Charter Review Committee have been confirmed by the City Council, that their meetings will begin. She expects their work to be completed in time for approval by the voters at this year’s November election.