Hi. Here are some of the bigger issues we are facing.

Newton North High School

The existing building has been obsolete since it opened in the 1970s, with little natural light, poor air quality, and an ugly, hulking appearance. The price of the proposed new Newton North continues to escalate—$186 million plus as of January 16, 2008. The start of the project was delayed several ways: getting the advisory committee recommendations, hiring architects and others, getting through the Board of Aldermen, going through design review, and the public referendum. The most obvious choices are either to move ahead with this more-expensive project or to radically reduce the scope of work and further delay the project.

I am working to understand the implications of the options with an eye to the financial consequences to the city of the indebtedness we would incur under the current plan.

Trash collection contract

Newton’s 20-year contract with Waste Management expires this July. The Solid Waste Commission has recommended a new 5-year deal with WM for automated (robotic arm on side of truck) pickup. This would save an estimated $500,000 per year but citizens are concerned that automated pickup might not work in our densely built neighborhoods, on hills, and especially with winter storms. Apparently, numerous northern cities and towns (e.g., Denver, Woonsocket, Mansfield) have successful automated pickup. Our recycling contract will not expire for two more years.

I favor a competitive bidding for a two-year deal, in order to synchronize our trash and recycling contracts, which would allow us the option of signing a combined deal with more savings for these services in the future. Hopefully, we can save a significant amount from the bidding process. If not, we would have to consider moving to automated pickup to save desperately needed money. I am not opposed to automated pickup, as long as we have assurances that all our citizens will be provided good service. A ramped up recycling program would save money and be better for the environment and must be part of our planning.

Proposition 2 ½ Override

Looks like the Mayor will request over $20 million in an operating override. We know from the Blue Ribbon Commission that an override is needed, but the cost escalation at Newton North and our other capital plans make the need greater. I prefer a debt exclusion override (which pegs the funding to specific capital projects) to an operating override. More details will follow.

Sources of additional revenue for the city

Although I don’t expect any of these to close the budget gap, all will help.

• Request an increase in PILOT (payments in lieu of taxes) from large Newton tax-exempt organizations. We cannot compel their participation, but we should ask those who benefit from being in Newton and enjoying city services to give back to our community.

• Energy efficiency in city buildings.  A consultant has been hired to perform an audit. This must be aggressively pursued.

• Discuss joining the Commonwealth’s GIC health insurance plan. This may save 1-2% or more on our health care costs, which are large and rapidly growing. Health care currently accounts for 13.7% of the projected FY2009 budget.

• Miscellaneous fees.  City fees are constrained by state law. But some of our fees are set below the state limits.  Consider raising those fees that are well below the state limit or haven’t been changed in years.

• Raise recycling rates, as mentioned above.

Prudent use of Community Preservation Act funds. Newton is wise to participate in this program which offers state matching funds to help protect open space and provide affordable housing. Given the current financial climate, priority should be given to those proposals that minimize required expenditures from the city’s general fund.

Noise ordinance and leaf blower ban. This will be coming before the Programs & Services Committee in early 2008. It appears the noise ordinance could use some tweaking. As for leaf blowers, they are convenient and widely used. Unfortunately, they are both noisy and polluting. I will seek reasonable limits on their use, perhaps phased in over time.

New developments. The Board passed the Planned Multi-use Business District ordinance last term. This will allow for larger and denser projects subject to strict design, accessibility and traffic mitigation restrictions. Chestnut Hill Square is expected to be the first test of this new ordinance. This parcel on Route 9 in Chestnut Hill has been vacant since the tragic fire. We await a formal proposal from them, but the developer has been responsive to traffic and accessibility concerns in their communications so far. That is a good place to start.