As the professional trade association for the municipal officials of Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Municipal Association (MMA) acts as the voice of cities in towns throughout the Commonwealth. More than 110 local officials from communities across Massachusetts serve on the MMA policy committees, which advise the MMA Board of Directors, staff, and MMA members on legislative, regulatory and public policy issues.
Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, who sits on the MMA’s Fiscal Policy Committee, was joined today by the city’s Chief Administrative and Financial Officer (CAFO) Cathy Buono and Deputy CAFO Lindsay Hackett for the 2026 Policy Committee Kickoff meeting.
The City of Springfield has been consistently recognized for strong fiscal management under Mayor Sarno’s leadership. The city’s Finance Department, led currently by CAFO Buono, has been recognized for the Distinguished Budget Award for the past 19 years in a row.
“As cities and towns face historic fiscal pressure, my Administration remains committed to continuing our strong financial model of fiscal excellence, transparency and accountability,” Mayor Sarno said.
“Since taking office, my administration has been committed to establishing a long-standing resiliency plan by maintaining core services, personnel, and continued investment in our City’s future, while being mindful of the current economic climate,” explained Mayor Sarno. “We continue to maintain the highest bond ratings in the city’s history, and in a testament to our commitment to strong fiscal discipline, the FY26 budget was balanced, for the eleventh consecutive year, without the use of stabilization reserve funds. Thanks to these measures, my administration has never had to lay anyone off and we have weathered numerous man-made and natural disasters – the 2011 tornado, freak nor’easter snowstorms, a gas explosion, the COVID-19 pandemic, and economic recessions. Thank you to CAFO Cathy Buono, Deputy CAFO Lindsay Hackett, and our entire finance team for your ongoing efforts on behalf of our city. We will continue to be prudent and compassionate while managing our city’s finances as we move forward during these uncertain times.”
