Framingham 2022 Budget Ends With Zero Tax Levy Increase

FRAMINGHAM, MA — The Framingham City Council this week mostly completed the fiscal 2022 budget process, cleaving more than $1 million off Mayor Yvonne Spicer's original proposal.

The Council unanimously approved a $305.9 million operating budget on Tuesday after a final round of funding votes for various departments, including a $146.8 million Framingham Public Schools budget — still $1.4 million less than what the School Committee had asked for — and effectively firing the city's economic development director by cutting his salary.

Spicer sent a $307.4 million request to Council on April 30, which included a 2-1/2 percent tax levy increase. The budget approved by Councilors on Tuesday means a zero levy base increase, potentially saving property owners money on tax bills. Framingham won't set the 2022 tax rate until November, however. Even if the tax rate remains relatively flat, rising property values can still mean a tax bill increase.

Councilors made some key cuts to reduce the budget by $1.5 million. One major cut was to the Planning and Community Development Department. Councilors voted 8 to 3 to eliminate Director Kevin Shea's salary. Councilors Margareth Shepard, Cesar Stewart-Morales and Tracey Bryant voted against the cut.

Shea was hired by Spicer in late 2019 after he served as Taunton's economic development director. Councilors said Shea underperformed during his time in Framingham, didn't have meaningful relationships with local businesses and didn't present a suitable reorganization plan for the department. Spicer said Shea did his best during the pandemic and on a "shoestring" budget. With Shea's position gone, the economic development department budget will drop by about $200,000 to just over $717,000.

The Council also voted to cut the human resources director's salary by $70,000, although that cut may be temporary. Councilors want a study showing if a combined city and schools HR department would be more efficient. Outgoing Chief Financial Officer Mary Ellen Kelley said the city will begin studying that merger this week.

"This provides a little bit of feet to the fire to make sure we're having the discussion we need to have," District 8 Councilor John Stefanini said in proposing the salary cut, which could be reversed once the 2022 fiscal year begins.

The Council still has to approve the utility enterprise fund budget and the 2022 capital budget. Those votes will take place at over the last weeks in June before the 2021 fiscal year ends on June 30.