THE MALDEN ADVOCATE – Friday, May 18, 2018

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Vol. 20, No. 20

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City sees small decrease in FY 2018 budget By Barbara Taormina ayor Gary Christenson made his annual trip to the City Council this week to present his $177,948,635 budget proposal for 2019. Christenson’s proposal represents a 1 percent decrease over this year’s $180 million budget thanks to savings in health insurance costs, tuition for Malden students attending charter schools and a $3.2 million drop in debt service payments. “Tax collection and new growth remain strong,� said Christenson, noting that Malden saw the third-biggest gain in single-family home prices in Greater Boston for 2017. And Malden’s dip into reserve funds to balance the budget will be far lighter than the past couple of years with $2.4 million in reserves baked into next year’s budget. “We have seen significant improvement in our use of reserves, with $4 million less being used than last year, all the while maintaining current staffing levels,� said Christenson, who added that this year’s budget surplus, or free cash, will more than cover the reserve fund spending. “This added to revenue from the casino sets us up well for next

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year,� said Christenson. This year’s budget proposal represents a dramatic reversal of fortune from the spring of 2016 when City Controller Charles Ranaghan and Strategic Planner Ron Hogan presented a five-year budget forecast that predicted annual shortfalls of $7 million to $10 million through 2022. But since 2017, Malden’s revenue from property taxes has jumped $8.2 million, money from excise tax has increased by $450,000, local taxes on meals have bumped up by $230,000 and state aid is up by $1.2 million. And spending has been managed and, in some cases, cut. Christenson credited Ranaghan and Human Resources Director Anthony Chiccuarelli with saving $1.5 million in health-care costs by negotiating changes to the city’s health insurance plan with the unions. Christenson also raved about Hogan’s work on charter school tuition, which was originally scheduled to increase by $2.2 million next year. But Hogan took a deep dive into the law and developed an alternative interpretation of the statute, which was presented

BUDGET 2019 | SEE PAGE 4

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Published Every Friday

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Friday, May 18, 2018

Malden Moms Have Their Day

Shown at the Annual Ward 1 Mother’s Day Breakfast, held on May 13 at Anthony’s of Malden, are, from left to right, Michael Connaire, Ward 1 Councillor Peg Crowe, Mayor Gary Christenson, State Rep. Paul Donato, Meghan Drummey, Ward 5 Councillor Barbara Murphy, Ward 1 School Committee Michael Drummey, Margie Drummey, and Melissa Drummey. See more photo highlights on page 12. (Advocate photo by Ross Scabin)

Annual Boston’s Wounded Vet Run rides through Malden this Sunday By Sara Brown n Sunday, May 20, over 6,000 motorcycle enthusiasts are expected to show their support for combat veterans at the 8th Annual Boston Wounded Vet Run, a 90-minute motorcycle ride through Malden, Melrose, Wakefield, Saugus, Revere and East Boston to raise money in support and honor of severely wounded military veterans, Captain Greg Galeazzi, Sergeant Brandon Korona, Sergeant Peter Rooney and Corporal Brian Johnston. Those that want to take part but prefer not to ride can meet motorcycle riders, this year’s honorees and New England veterans at the closing cere-

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SPECIAL GUESTS: Some of the honored wounded veterans are shown being applauded by attendees as they arrive by motorcade at last year’s annual Wounded Vet Run at Boston Harley-Davidson in Revere. (Advocate file photo)

mony at Suffolk Downs – beginning at 2:30 p.m. – featuring music, food, a beer tent and guest speakers. The event each year aims to raise money for four New England Veterans who were recently severely injured in

overseas combat. The run starts at Boston Harley-Davidson in Revere and ends at Suffolk Downs in East Boston for a ceremony and events. Expect traffic delays during the run

VETERANS | SEE PAGE 2

Be Safe Not Sorry!

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