NORTHAMPTON — A hearing originally scheduled for Thursday evening on the city’s proposed $106.2 million budget was postponed to June 23, Mayor David Narkewicz said.
The hearing is scheduled for 7 p.m. in the City Council chambers of the Puchalski Municipal Building. The council will consider the budget, which covers all school and city operations for the fiscal year beginning July 1, and hear from residents.
The council also is expected to vote on the budget. Then required second vote on the budget is scheduled for 5 p.m. June 28 in the same location.
In accordance with the city charter, Narkewicz presented the budget May 17, which was 45 days before the budget is supposed to take effect.
The new budget must be in place by the last day of the 2016 fiscal year, which is June 30. The council is permitted to make cuts in the budget but may not increase it.
Narkewicz previously told the Gazette that the spending plan, which totals $106,227,661 and is up 2.5 percent from the current year, reflects rising costs and a focus on capital investments. Additionally, the budget calls for tax revenue of $59,204,031, an increase of $2,671,867, or 4.7 percent, from the figure budgeted for this year.
Staff writer Stephanie Murray contributed reporting. Michael Majchrowicz can be reached at mmajchrowicz@gazettenet.com or 413-585-5234.