The Worcester City Council labored for about 17 hours in five separate meetings before finally approving a municipal budget of $491.1 million for the fiscal year beginning July of this year.  Immediately following the adjournment of the meeting, however, the mayor and council members acknowledged that, unlike past budget approvals, this one was going to see some changes.  The resolve was that they would be revisiting the budget for further cuts in the continuing weeks.

The great uncertainty was based on not knowing what would be cut in the state’s 2010 fiscal budget.  The budget proposed by the Senate Ways and Means Committee imposes in excess of $2.5 billion in budget cuts and reduced spending, and would further decrease local aid the state provides Worcester by around $7 million.

This would require another 150 to 175 layoffs of municipal employees, in addition to the 300 positions already eliminated by the city council’s 2010 approved budget.  Two home rule bills might save the city up to $6.5 million.  The first one would enable the city to offer early retirement for as many as 100 eligible municipal employees.

The state’s budget will be finalized by the end of June and Worcester city officials will know the verdict then.  With so much flux going on in the economy, it’ll be refreshing if all this ends on a good note.

Doesn’t it make you wonder, though, which employees are slated for the chopping block?  Will police, fire and other public safety positions be eliminated?  If so, how will this impact the relatively low crime rates currently experienced by the city?

We’ll have to get back to you on that one.