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Fiorentini said that the budget would improve services in public education, and would fix more potholes than had been fixed in many years. “Only a year or two ago, many people would have thought this budget impossible,” Fiorentini said. “We have no layoffs, no cuts in services and, in fact, several services have been improved.” The Haverhill City Budget for fiscal year 2005 - 2006 (which begins July 1, 2005) is $130 Million ($129,983,516), a 6.4% increase from last years budget which was approximately $122 million. Mayor Fiorentini thanked the city council for voting for his budget and called it “a step forward for the city of Haverhill.” “This budget provides more money for public education, and increases the amounts given to the highway department," Fiorentini added. “I appreciate the hard work the council put into this budget and I appreciate their support.” “For many of our citizens, all they get for their tax dollars are highway department services. For that money, they are entitled to better service—to cleaner streets, fewer potholes and better sidewalks. Under our budget limitations we can only do so much. This budget means better service within the limits that we can afford.” Fiorentini also warned that Haverhill’s budget problems are not over: “Haverhill’s fiscal problems continue. We have managed to get through for the past two years with the use of one time money and with the help of the State legislature. We are headed in the right direction, but our fiscal problems are clearly not over. We continue to have a structural deficit. It is critical that we continue of the path of controlling our spending and holding the line.” Approval of Artist’s Lofts Downtown a Major Lift for Haverhill Mayor Fiorentini said that approval of artist loft condominiums for the downtown area is a “major boost for downtown redevelopment in Haverhill.” The Haverhill City Council approved artist lofts condominiums in the building on Locust Street that now houses the Com-munity Action Commission. Community Action will remain in the building and the remaining floors will become artist lofts. The project developer is Beacon Projects, who are also doing a much larger development in the Cabot Building adjacent to the Community Action building. "These are the first artist loft projects ever approved in the city, and represent a major step forward," Fiorentini said. “Redeveloping this building as artist lofts is a major boost for our downtown development. It takes an old underused factory building and brings it back to life as upscale housing. It is part of our overall vision to reuse old factory buildings and improve our tax base. The development was approved by the administration, the planning department and the planning board. The city council voted unanimously to approve it with a 9-0 vote. *Send your questions
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HAVERHILL-
For the second year in a row, Mayor James Fiorentini has
balanced the city budget with no layoffs and without a
proposition 2 1/2 override.