By CHRIS COLLINS
(Greenfield, MA) — It’s unlikely that Greenfield’s police department budget will be reduced this year.
That from Greenfield Mayor Roxann Wedegartner, who says the police budget for fiscal 2021 is set, but she says there is still work to be done by that department to improve and, in some cases, restore credibility within the community.
“I’m currently in discussion with the police chief about how he and his officers can create greater trust and communication through more focused community policing,” Wedegartner said.
Wedegartner added that fiscal 2022 remains an “open question,” and said additional budget adjustments will likely have to be made once a final state budget is adopted. She did not specify, however, which departments may be facing reductions in the fall.
“We should know more about the numbers near the end of August,” Wedegartner added. “At that point, we will probably have some decisions to make.”
Legislative leaders on Beacon Hill say a temporary budget will likely be needed to fund operations through at least August, with a final state budget not expected until sometime in September.