By KENNEDY GRIFFIN
(Greenfield, MA) The Greenfield city budget for the upcoming 2023 fiscal year has been submitted to city council by Mayor Roxann Wedegartner. The budget includes a 7% spending increase amidst rising costs of goods, fuel, and cost-of-living raises that were negotiated last year. Meanwhile, the mayor has only proposed a 3.35% tax rate increase.
“We focused on a shared common purpose of providing a balanced City budget that realistically maintains services and programs for all Greenfield residents while confronting economic pressures that are beyond our control,” said Mayor Wedegartner.
As the city recovers from the economic impacts of the global pandemic, the budget proposal includes reductions across most departments and limits requests for expenses and staffing. The good news is the city is beginning to see the effects of recovering revenue in Hotel and Meals taxes as well as in the cannabis industry, and more to come with two new dispensaries opening later this year.
The Mayor’s complete budget proposal is available online at www.greenfield-ma.gov/budget.