Mayor Sarno begins Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Hearings

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and Chief Administrative and Financial Officer (CAFO) Cathy Buono and team joined today to begin the Mayor’s Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) budget hearings. Chief of Staff Bill Baker, Deputy CAFO Lindsay Hackett, and Budget Director Chris Fraser were also in attendance, along with City Council President Tracye Whitfield, City Councilors Zaida Govan, Maria Perez, Brian Santaniello, Victor Davila, and joining remotely Councilor Justin Hurst.

City Department Heads began presenting their FY27 budget requests and responded to questions from Mayor Sarno, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and City Councilors. Today Mayor Sarno heard from the following departments: Administration and Finance, 311 Citizens Service Center, City Council, City Clerk, Elections, Capital Asset Construction, Procurement, Information Technology, and Assessors.

Mayor Sarno states, “Thank you CAFO Cathy Buono and team and to the department heads who presented today. Thanks to the City Councilors and media too who attended. As always, we are doing our due diligence and will be prepared to deal with ‘the ebb and flow’ of our local, state and national economic landscape. I am very proud of our prudent and sustainable fiscal management policies, along with our award-winning finance team under the leadership of CAFO Cathy Buono. Throughout all of the challenges we have encountered, including the COVID-19 pandemic, inflation and economic uncertainty, my administration has maintained the highest bond ratings in our City’s history, along with a strong and healthy reserve. My Administration will continue to provide sound and prudent fiscal leadership for an efficient, effective, strategic and compassionate way to assure that city services continue to be provided for our residents and business community.”

FY27 budget hearings will continue Thursday. The full budget hearing schedule is available on the city website. The hearings will take place at City Hall in the Mayor’s Conference Room (Room 205). The hearings are open to the public to attend. If you cannot attend in person, you may watch remotely online thanks to Focus Springfield Community TV: https://focusspringfield.com/

Recordings of the hearings will also be available to watch thanks to Focus Springfield.