Page 4 - 2024 Annual Report

T H E Y E A R IN R E VIE W

L OC AL G O VE R N M E N T

The Research Bureau’s Master Plan. This brief summarizes the main goals of the City’s plan and
long-time focus on public follows with several questions to consider going forward. These three
administration and municipal questions were as follows: how will the City prioritize spending to hire
operations continues to and retain new staff? How will the City approach community feedback,
be a priority. In 2024, the while still executing a zoning code update that fulfills the goals of Now
Bureau brought back the | Next? How will the City work with its neighbor to implement the transit
State of the City Address. In goals of Now | Next?
collaboration with the City of In order to fund many of these priorities, the City must budget effectively.
Worcester, WRRB co-hosted The Bureau provides its insights on government finance in its annual
City Manager Eric Batista at report Breaking Down the Budget: City of Worcester for Fiscal Year
the Jean McDonough Arts 2025. Municipal budgets are a direct reflection of a city's priorities and
Center (JMAC) in downtown values, offering insight into the community’s vision and the decisions
Worcester for his first State of the City Address. His remarks covered of its leadership. They go beyond mere financial statements to reveal
his priorities for the future of the City including housing production how resources are allocated to address immediate needs and pursue
and affordability, school capital projects, public safety, traffic violence, long-term goals. The Worcester Regional Research Bureau provides
Worcester Now | Next, and more. an independent review of the budget to enhance transparency and
Over the last year, many of these priorities of the City Manager have provide residents with a resource for accountability. This approach
also been examined by The Research Bureau. One such initiative is the aims to provide a clear understanding of the budget changes from the
Worcester Now | Next Master Plan. Between 2022 and 2024, the City prior fiscal year and can assess how well it aligns with their diverse
of Worcester developed and subsequently adopted Worcester Now | wants and needs.
Next, its first citywide long-range plan in nearly 40 years. In February, In its ongoing commitment to analyzing public administration,
a nearly-finished draft was released and in response The Research WRRB examined the state's civil service system and its impact on
Bureau released Questions to Consider about Worcester’s Now | Next
Worcester's police leadership in Mass. Exodus from Civil Service.

Worcester Percent of Percent
FY25 Budget: Amount Total Change SCAN FOR MORE:
Expenditures from FY24
Education $533,000,000 59.7% +5.3% State of the City Mass. Exodus
Address from Civil Service
City Services $195,000,000 21.8% +4.4%

Fixed Costs $165,000,000 18.5% -5.4%
TOTAL $893,000,000 100.0% +3.0%

Worcester Percent of Percent Questions to Check it Out: the
FY25 Budget: Amount Total Change Consider about Worcester Public
Revenues from FY24 Worcester’s Now | Library in Space
Next Master Plan and Time
Property Taxes $396,000,000 44.4% +4.9%
State Aid $387,000,000 43.4%
(Education) +5.4%
Local Receipts
(Taxes and $57,000,000 6.3% +7.3%
Fees)
State Aid $53,000,000 5.9% Breaking Down
(General) +2.9% the Budget: City of
Other Available $180,000 <1.0% Worcester for Fiscal
Funds 0.0% Year 2025
TOTAL $893,000,000 100.0% +3.0%

4 | W O R CES T ER RE G I O N A L RES E A R CH B U RE A U § W RRB . O R G