LAWRENCE — Council President Patrick Blanchette said he's given up hope that the city can resolve its $9.5 million budget deficit on its own.
"I will take my questions to the Department of Revenue and let them know the budget and finance director is not engaging with the council," Blanchette said after last night's council meeting.
"The information is just not flowing, and I'm going to call the DOR (today) to find out what steps need to be taken in order for the tax rate to be set. Our budget director is making a very hefty salary and for him not to be engaging with the council is very, very disturbing," Blanchette said.
Blanchette and the council expected to be briefed last night by Budget and Finance Director Mark Andrews on how he plans to respond to a recent a letter from the DOR expressing concerns that Lawrence has done little to address "a significant deficit" for the fiscal year that began July 1.
The department recently warned that if this deficit isn't "cured," the city's tax rate can't be set in December and tax bills won't go out by Jan. 1 — affecting "city cash flow, proving disruptive to the city and those it serves."
Andrews called some councilors saying he wouldn't be able to attend last night's meeting because he was sick, according to Blanchette.
"The last three to four times I requested his presence, he did not appear," Blanchette said.
"Every time, he says he's sick. He just seems to be avoiding the topic of a $10 million deficit," he said, referring to the initial $10.9 million deficit that the DOR identified in August.
Councilors did receive financial documents for last night's meeting, though they didn't consider the information useful.
"It's paperwork that we've had previously," Councilor Nicholas Kolofoles said of the documents provided.
Kolofoles said he expected the fiscal problems plaguing the city since late summer will continue to be issues for the newly-elected council that will take over in January. State intervention would probably be likely, he suggested.
"Come in now, because we're in deep, deep trouble," he said.
"The ones who are going to pay the consequences are the taxpayers," Councilor Grisel Silva said.
