By Fidel Maltez
City Manager Fidel Maltez has placed an emphasis on communicating with residents since he took office in January. Earlier this week, Maltez recorded the latest in his series of public outreach videos to air on Chelsea Community TV. The text of his latest video, which focuses on the FY25 budget, is below:
Hello residents of Chelsea. Welcome to Our Community. My name is Fidel Maltez and I am humbled to serve as your City Manager. It is with immense gratitude and a sense of purpose that I stand before you today to present the annual budget for our city. This year’s budget is a strong reflection of our shared priorities and commitment to the future of Chelsea.
The total budget for this year stands at just over $245 million dollars. This includes $105 million allocated for City expenditures and $140 million for the School Department. The School Department’s budget has increased by 6.00%, largely thanks to new Chapter 70 funding generated by the Student Opportunity Act. This significant investment in our schools underscores our dedication to providing quality education for all our children.
City expenditures have also increased by 6%. Our focus this year is on improving processes that directly impact your daily lives. We are dedicated to enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of our services, ensuring that every resident feels the positive changes. Whether it’s through better infrastructure, more accessible public services, or innovative community programs, we are ready to invest in the future of Chelsea. To lead and oversee this transformation, we have proposed new positions in our operating budget.
One such position is our Deputy City Manager for Finance. Having a dedicated professional in this role will provide us with the expertise needed to navigate the complex financial landscape. The Deputy City Manager for Finance will focus on balancing our budget, optimizing our spending, and identifying new revenue opportunities. This role will also play a key part in fostering transparency and accountability, as we will have a clear and focused approach to managing our finances.
We are also excited about our Deputy City Manager for Operations. This position is essential for advancing our proactive governance model and will work to improve the quality of life for all residents by streamlining our city’s operations. This involves identifying areas for improvement, implementing best practices, and responding more swiftly to the needs of our community. This proactive approach means fewer delays, better service delivery, and a more responsive government that truly works for you.
In this budget, we also add capacity to our Inspectional Services Department, through our new Deputy Director of ISD. ISD oversees housing regulations, building codes, and permitting processes. The demands on this department have grown, and to meet these demands effectively, we need to strengthen our management team. The Deputy Director will streamline permitting processes, and ensure strict compliance with housing regulations, resulting in improved response times and better service delivery.
Similarly, we add a Deputy Commissioner in the Department of Public Works. From keeping our streets clean and safe, to ensuring our parks and public spaces are well-maintained, the DPW is at the heart of our city’s operations. This position will seek additional state and federal grants to bolster our resources. By tapping into these funding opportunities, we will undertake more projects without increasing our tax burden. Our City has an ambitious capital improvement plan, and it is essential that we stay on track to meet our goals. The Deputy Commissioner will be instrumental in coordinating these efforts, ensuring that we make consistent progress and that our community continues to thrive.
Our ability to absorb the cost of these new additions is a testament to Chelsea’s very favorable financial position. This year, we propose a modest use of reserves to support the budget, amounting to $707,000. This figure aligns with the prudent fiscal practices of previous years, ensuring that we maintain a stable and resilient financial outlook.
On Monday, June 3, the City Council will hold a public hearing and vote on the proposed fiscal year 2025 budget for our city. We hope to hear from you and see continued engagement around our municipal budgeting process. Interested residents should visit chelseama.gov to see our ‘financial documents & reports’ section. We use our budget to communicate our priorities and we want you to be part of the conversation.
As we step into a new fiscal year, I am filled with optimism for the future of our community. This budget is a reflection of our collective aspirations and our commitment to making Chelsea a better place for all. Our resilience, determination, and solidarity have always been our greatest assets. I am confident that, with your support and active participation, we can make Chelsea a shining example of what a community can accomplish when united by a common purpose.
Thank you for your trust, your collaboration, and your dedication to our city. Fiscal Year 2025 will be a year of growth, positive impact, and boundless potential. See you next time on Our Community. Thank you and May god bless the City of Chelsea.