The council is also scheduled to take a final vote on a resolution to amend the U.S. Constitution so as to negate a Supreme Court ruling that corporations have the same First Amendment rights as individuals.
David NarkewiczNORTHAMPTON – The City Council is scheduled to get its first look at Mayor David J. Narkewicz’ fiscal 2013 budget at its meeting on Thursday night.
Narkewicz was elected to his first term as mayor last November and this is the first budget he has put together. He has not yet released any of the details, including the total cost, in part because the state has not given cities and towns its final word on how much aid it will provide.
The council will have a month to discuss the budget before taking a final vote next month. By law, the budget must be in place by July 1, the beginning of the new fiscal year.
In the beginning of the process, Narkewicz asked each department to submit a level-service budget that would continue the services they provide without any additional revenues. Because some costs, such as utilities and contract raises, are not within the control of departments, cuts must be made to preserve the level of services. Narkewicz has said there is a possibility some funding might be added to some departments.
Also on Thursday, the council will take a final vote on a resolution to amend the U.S. Constitution so as to negate a Supreme Court ruling that corporations have the same First Amendment rights as individuals. The resolution states that corporations are not people and that the ruling gives businesses too much power to influence elections financially. The resolution passed unanimously on first reading.