5 Highlights From Mayor Fuller's State Of The City Address

Newton MA

23 February, 2022

8:00 PM

Description

NEWTON, MA — Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller delivered her State of the City address on Tuesday evening. Here are some highlights from this year's speech. Achievements Fuller outlined a list of things Newton has achieved in the last four years, including implementing full day Kindergarten, securing Webster Woods, inventing and expanding NewMo, writing and implementing its first Climate Action Plan, drafting permits to develop parking lots, increasing communication, and improving city services such as composting, textile pickups, and translation services, and helping community members through the COVID-19 pandemic. "I can confidently say that the state of our City is strong," said Fuller. "Excellent schools. Low crime rates. Outstanding services. A triple A bond rating. New school buildings. A compassionate and science driven response to the pandemic. A wonderful community of neighbors." "We feel a palpable sense of optimism in the air as the Omicron surge wanes and we can wear masks more selectively," she continued. "We are confident that with the vaccines, boosters and testing we can pivot to living with this endemic." FY 2023 Budget The city is currently in the final stages of forming its FY 2023 Budget. Fuller said that, although revenues, are still down, they are on the mend. "Thanks to our prudent financial planning, we will be proposing the largest operating budget in the city's history for both the Newton Public Schools and our city departments," she said. In addition, the city is still figuring out how to use its ARPA funds to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, but did make strides last week with a community listening session. COVID-19 Fuller recognized the city's collective grief from losing 239 residents to COVID-19 and the ways in which the pandemic has changed the city, including supply chain disruptions, staffing shortages, and inflation. She also noted that mental health remains a concern as the city works to heal itself. Because costs are up and needs have increased since the start of the COVID-19 era, she said the city will still have to make difficult choices while budgeting this year even though there is a 3.5 percent increase for the Newton Public Schools Budget and a 3 percent increase for municipal departments. Newton Public Schools This year, 11,700 students are enrolled in Newton Public Schools, a 1,000 or 8 percent decrease from enrollment five years ago. However, the district's 2023 budget is $262 million, an $8.9 million increase over last year's spending, which Fuller said "demonstrates our deep commitment to learning that defines our community." In the last few weeks, Fuller has also committed an additional $2 million to NPS for social and emotional support and technology upgrades. "Even with this record investment combined with decreased enrollment, our Superintendent, School Committee, and staff will need to work diligently to deploy this funding judiciously," said Fuller. "This record-breaking funding eases difficult decisions but does not eliminate them." The Future of Newton The mayor listed some of her goals for the next few years, including supporting residents even more though infrastructure, resources, and programs and investing in public spaces and places. She mentioned the new Senior Center, the West Newton Armory affordable housing project, the city's first-ever Affordable Housing Trust, new commuter rail stations in Auburndale, West Newton, and Newtonville, a performance pavilion at the Newton Centre Bowl, and more. "I know we can listen attentively to hear each other's views, forge compromises, make decisions, take action and move Newton forward," said Fuller. We have accomplished so much together and we will accomplish much more."