City Council Approves Budget 80 Posts Will Remain Vacant

In a raw display unanimity, the Cambridge City Council gave final approved last week to a $141 million budget package for next fiscal year that guarantees funding at current levels for every city department.

The nine councilors expressed relief after passing the budget and avoiding the substantial day-offs of municipal employees and severe reductions in city services which had been predicted for Cambridge during the second year under the statewide Proportion 21/2 tax cut.

The controversial property tax-cutting measure would have required city officials to trim the budget by $10.2 million to make up for tax revenue lost in the fiscal year that will begin July 1. But city voters passed a referendum in April overriding the Prop 21/2 mandate and allowing the city to maintain its current total tax levy of $67.9 million.

Although the approved budget orders no lay-offs, City Manager Robert W. Healy said late last week that 80 municipal positions now vacant will not be filled next year. He explained that the city's fixed costs, such as annual user fee payments, to the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority have increased with inflation.

Because Massachusetts legislators have not approved a state budget, an aid proposal for Cambridge for next year has not yet been prepared by the Department of Revenue.

City officials said that Cambridge is likely to receive more in state aid than last year and estimated a net increase of about $6 million.

"We know we'll get more, but it's difficult to know how much more," said Deputy City Manager Richard Rossi.

Healy added that his office will prepare a supplementary budget for council approval when the state figures are disclosed Possibilities for the and increase include funding the vacant position, paying off some of the city's bond debts or initiating an emergency fund to lessen the effect of potential future financial difficulties.