LAWRENCE — After legislators, local officials and private citizens speak tomorrow at the statehouse, Dan Rivera, a newly elected city councilor, hopes "the city gets the chance to fix the budget ourselves."
"They are allowing us to borrow money, not giving us money," said Rivera of House Bill 4421, which if passed by the Legislature allows Lawrence to borrow up to $35 million to repair its budget.
But Michael Sweeney, a laid off Lawrence employee, thinks otherwise and opposes the bill in its current form. If the city's financial affairs are dire enough for $35 million in loans, shouldn't the state have strict oversight of the budget?
"We want real change and real accountability. That's all we are asking for," said Sweeney, who started a Facebook page "Finance Control Board for Lawrence." The page currently has 300 fans, including many folks who don't live in Lawrence, he said.
As written now, the bill gives the city a year to straighten out its finances with help from a state-appointed overseer. But if it the fiscal house isn't in order by January 2011, the state would take over and mandate a financial control board.
The city's current budget deficit is estimated at $24.5 million. Another $15 million shortfall is expected in the next fiscal year.
A joint public hearing, hosted by the House and Senate Ways and Means committees, starts at 11 a.m. tomorrow in the Gardner Auditorium at the statehouse. A plethora of testimony from those for and against the bill filed by Gov. Deval Patrick is expected.
Concern over the bill's financial implications is intertwined with Mayor William Lantigua's dual role as state representative, a seat he's held since 2002, and his combined $170,000 annual salary.
When first elected mayor, Lantigua said he may step down as state representative when his term expires Dec. 31, 2010. Others, including Patrick, have said he should give up the job sooner because the city needs a full-time mayor.
Lantigua, however, has defended keeping both jobs and said he's advocating for the people of Lawrence in both roles.
When they hear testimony tomorrow, Rivera said he hopes lawmakers realize Lantigua's mayoral administration is just a month old.
"And they see what a miserable job the former administration did," said Rivera, who now chairs the budget subcommittee. Hopefully, the committee will look at the newcomers and say, "These guys clearly did not have anything to do with it and we need a shot at fixing it ourselves."
On the flip side, Sweeney, the former city planner and staunch supporter of former Mayor Michael Sullivan, said a true reversal of fortune requires state intervention.
On the Facebook page, Sweeney has encouraged members to make phone calls and send e-mails to their representatives and senators expressing their dissatisfaction with the bill and the need for the control board immediately. He's hoping that one-to-one contact with lawmakers continues right up until tomorrow morning's hearing.
"The message has really resonated with people," Sweeney said. "If things are serious enough for a $35 million loan, how are they not serious enough for a control board?"
He also chided legislators for scheduling the public hearing on a Tuesday morning. A public hearing would have been truer to its name if it was held on a Saturday or an evening when the majority of the people weren't working, he said.
"That would have been much more conducive for members of the general public," Sweeney said. "People can't afford to a take a day off from work nor should they."
One thing the committee won't be able to ignore tomorrow is how this issue has split a community, Rivera said.
"How deeply a divided community we are... . I'm hoping they don't hold that against us and let us fix our own problems," Rivera said.
State Sen. Susan Tucker, an Andover Democrat, says the hearing is being held so that "Lawrence citizens have an opportunity to be heard and weigh in on the bill."
But, she noted, residents don't have to personally attend. They can call or e-mail her at 617-722-1612 or susan.tucker@state.ma.us, she said.
She hopes those who do attend, including her colleagues, will walk away with a clear understanding of "what the bill does or does not do."
"The key is to stay focused on the goal ... crafting a balanced and fiscally responsible response to the city's budget problems," Tucker said.
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