Budget fights: council trims human-relations spending, approves MIS budget after cybersecurity debate

As the council proceeded through the FY2027 appropriation order, members dug into departmental budgets and voted line-by-line on several contested items. Notable outcomes included a $15,000 reduction in the human-relations ordinary expenses line and a contentious approval of the MIS (Information Services) appropriation after debate over staffing levels and cyber-security spending.

The human-relations ordinary expense line was reduced after councilors questioned the scale and transparency of some programming expenditures; CFO Baldwin explained the account covers training, employee appreciation and translation services and noted about $8,300 had already been expended this fiscal year. The motion to reduce the ordinary-expense line by $15,000 passed on a roll-call vote.

The MIS budget drew extended scrutiny. Councilors questioned a roughly $1.1 million increase in MIS salaries compared with FY2024 and the absorption of ARPA-funded positions into the general fund. MIS Director Fernandez and the manager described a stepwise reorganization after a 2023 cyber incident, migration to cloud services, and ongoing licensing and security costs. Fernandez said the department now fields about 17 staff supporting core municipal systems and that some software and radio-system costs remain budgeted in police and fire accounts. Opponents argued the increase is too large during a year of layoffs and tax increases; supporters said cybersecurity and core-network support are essential.

Despite objections and a handful of "no" votes, the council approved the MIS appropriation. The manager said he would keep working with department heads to find efficiencies and to return with options for reinstating key positions if state revenue is finalized in a favorable direction.

Councilors also debated the clerk's office staffing and fee assumptions, with CFO Baldwin noting $50,000 of potential additional fee revenue once a full-year of higher fees is collected and certified for state revenue estimates.

The council left several items for follow-up, asking the administration and finance to report back with clearer itemizations, and to revisit staffing restorations once state budget certainty arrives.