During the Budget Hearing on Tuesday evening, TJ Plante, CAFO for Mayor Sarno’s administration, proposed allocating $3 million of the city’s FY23 surplus funds, known as Free Cash, to a Neighborhood Enhancement Fund. Free cash is the cash remaining after the city has paid its operating expenses and made any necessary capital expenditures. However, there was no During the Budget Hearing on Tuesday evening, TJ Plante, CAFO for Mayor Sarno’s administration, proposed allocating $3 million of the city’s FY23 surplus funds, known as Free Cash, to a Neighborhood Enhancement Fund. Free cash is the cash remaining after the city has paid its operating expenses and made any necessary capital expenditures. However, there was no mechanism in place, nor were there any specifics about how these funds would be used or spent.
“The creation of this new Neighborhood Enhancement Fund is merely the administration’s latest scheme to use city funds for personal and political gain.” says Councilwoman Tracye Whitfield “The City Council has a fiduciary responsibility to know precisely how these funds will be used, but no such information has been provided. It would be a disservice to Springfield taxpayers if the City Council approved this transfer without knowing how the cash would be dispersed. This is identical to what happened with the ARPA funds process, which has been a disaster. I urge my colleagues on the City Council to send this request to the Finance Subcommittee for additional details before approving this transfer blindly.”
The $3 million in available funds could be added to the $5 million budgeted for lowering property taxes, which are projected to increase for the ninth consecutive year. The $3 million can be used to establish a relief fund for the impending 6.5% increase in water and sewer bills. However, Mayor Sarno wants the city to believe that creating a fund without specifying how the money will be spent and without additional City Council oversight is the correct course of action. This has not worked out well for the City during the distribution of the $123 million in ARPA funds in the recent past.
City Councilor Justin Hurst states, “I can’t fathom approving $3 million dollars towards a Neighborhood Enhancement Fund with little to no details as to which neighborhoods the money is going to and for what projects in place of providing tax relief to our residents. Without a plan, this money could just as easily end up in the hands of rich developers or restaurant owners in the heart of downtown as opposed to actually benefiting our neighborhoods. The administration just doesn’t get it. While residents cry out for relief, Mayor Sarno conjures up ways to dupe citizens into believing that he is acting in their best interest. Not only could this 3 million dollars be used for property tax relief, but it also could be used to eliminate the trash fee next your or provide free or reduced transportation for those who need it most.
Ward 6 City Councilor Victor Davilla says, “three million dollars is a lot of money. A clear process and potential projects within the neighborhoods will ensure transparency.“ “I like the meaning behind the Neighborhood Enhancement Fund’s name. But which neighborhoods? How will projects be chosen? In good conscience, I could not accept a $3 million transfer to the fund with no procedure in place to determine how the money will be spent. I made that error with ARPA monies once, but I’ve learned my lesson based on how the administration is handling that.” Councilor Whitfield says
“The creation of this new Neighborhood Enhancement Fund is merely the administration’s latest scheme to use city funds for personal and political gain.” says Councilwoman Tracye Whitfield
“The City Council has a fiduciary responsibility to know precisely how these funds will be used, but no such information has been provided. It would be a disservice to Springfield taxpayers if the City Council approved this transfer without knowing how the cash would be dispersed. This is identical to what happened with the ARPA funds process, which has been a disaster. I urge my colleagues on the City Council to send this request to the Finance Subcommittee for additional details before approving this transfer blindly.”
The $3 million in available funds could be added to the $5 million budgeted for lowering property taxes, which are projected to increase for the ninth consecutive year. The $3 million can be used to establish a relief fund for the impending 6.5% increase in water and sewer bills.
However, Mayor Sarno wants the city to believe that creating a fund without specifying how the money will be spent and without additional City Council oversight is the correct course of action. This has not worked out well for the City during the distribution of the $123 million in ARPA funds in the recent past.
City Councilor Justin Hurst states, “I can’t fathom approving $3 million dollars towards a Neighborhood Enhancement Fund with little to no details as to which neighborhoods the money is going to and for what projects in place of providing tax relief to our residents. Without a plan, this money could just as easily end up in the hands of rich developers or restaurant owners in the heart of downtown as opposed to actually benefiting our neighborhoods. The administration just doesn’t get it. While residents cry out for relief, Mayor Sarno conjures up ways to dupe citizens into believing that he is acting in their best interest. Not only could this 3 million dollars be used for property tax relief, but it also could be used to eliminate the trash fee next your or provide free or reduced transportation for those who need it most.
Ward 6 City Councilor Victor Davilla says, “three million dollars is a lot of money. A clear process and potential projects within the neighborhoods will ensure transparency.“ “I like the meaning behind the Neighborhood Enhancement Fund’s name. But which neighborhoods? How will projects be chosen? In good conscience, I could not accept a $3 million transfer to the fund with no procedure in place to determine how the money will be spent.
I made that error with ARPA monies once, but I’ve learned my lesson based on how the administration is handling that.” Councilor Whitfield says
