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NEW BEDFORD — Mayor Jon Mitchell announced a temporary, 45-day hiring delay, but the new “austerity measure” does not include any staffing reduction or apply to the largest sectors of city government — the schools, police, fire, or water departments — so only applies to 9.5% of the city government, based on budgeted positions for the current fiscal year.
However, the announcement comes roughly one month before the city begins its annual departmental budget meetings, which kick off the yearly contest between the administration and City Council on trimming the budget. In recent years, city councilors have tried to appear more committed to cutting taxes than the mayor, and have blamed his administration for overspending.
In a press release, Mitchell described the new hiring freeze as an uncomfortable but necessary measure, saying it could be “very disruptive to operations, and there are certainly real-world consequences felt by residents.” But, Mitchell added, “in the current circumstance, it’s a necessary measure.”
The city’s public information officer, Jonathan Darling, did not answer questions for more details about the 45-day hiring freeze. In the past, Mitchell has described the difficulty in hiring for city positions, so it’s unclear if temporarily pausing hiring will have much effect.
In addition, Mitchell recently touted several new hires during his annual State of the City address, including a new director of data management and several “experts” to create a map of the city’s 12,000 street trees.
Whether or not the hiring freeze proves to be effective, the public commitment to austerity measures is likely to be a theme of this year’s budget negotiations. During a recent year’s cut process, the City Council slashed $9 million from the general fund, including from legally required services like waste collection. At the time, longtime City Councilor Linda Morad said the council needed to “rein in an administration that’s definitely out of control,” The Light reported.
Mitchell said in response that the council lacked any transparency: “The residents of New Bedford deserve a cut process that is subject to far more daylight,” he said. Ultimately, the saga ended with some of the money being restored to the budget in a supplemental appropriation.
Those fraught contests and accusations set the table for this year’s budget process, which is the main business between the city’s two branches of government. Every year, the mayor creates a budget, and the City Council can either approve it or make cuts.
Email Colin Hogan at chogan@newbedfordlight.org
School department is the largest but it’s also top heavy!
Which positions should be cut?
Superintendent?
Purchasing?
Finance?
Food services?
SROs?
Our largest department is funded 86% by the state and federal governments.
We have nearly the lowest average Single Family Residence taxes in the state.
Federal are you sure, prior January 2024 yes. But not sure about now. Bye, bye federally funded departments. The backbone is the clerks, custodians and maintenance, so yah your choices are good.
How much will that increase local taxes?
We don’t need any teachers?
The kids can learn filing, cleaning and painting?
Thank you for your GED perspective.
This article really stands out for its clarity.
After 10 years Joh Mitchell can’t continue to play the blame game and has to take responsibility for the city’s budget issues. Since he took over from Mayor Lang he has continued to grow city government and doubled our city’s budget. With no new private companies to contribute to our tax base the mayor continues to put the burden on the Taxpayers. It is real simple after 10 years John Mitchell’s vision for New Bedford is not working and New Bedford needs a new mayor.
After ~10 years Jon Mitchel won by nearly a two to one margin.
What should cut from our city budget?
SROs?
Trash pickup ?
Inspections?
We have lots of new companies.
One windfarm Crew Transfer Vessel puts over million dollars a year into the local economy.
We currently host seven.
How many millions in wages are generated by the South Terminal wind operation.
Pants on fire, we have new businesses.
Should Jon join Trump in shutting down the ugly windmills that are destroying our beautiful seascapes.
Will that make New Bedford Great Again?
Who would be a better mayor than Jon?
Any of our city councilors?
Linda Morad is a real uniter.
How about Jeff. R.?
He knows who is no good.
My votes for Brian.
Thanks for the comments, but how many years do you give a politician to see if their plan works? Well it has been over a decade and this mayor’s vision has failed. The city has to stop spending money that it does not have, stop government expansion, and start making cuts across the board in all departments (they call it physical financial responsibility). The city clearly needs a greater vision for the future other than solely relying on raising taxpayers dollars to run city government every year.
As long as we the people want.
That is how a democracy works.
A clear majority of we the people do not think that Jon has failed, see the election results.
The city has to stop spending money that it does not
have – the city has one of the lowest tax rates in the state.
How much of the city budget comes from the Federal and State?
Should it be more?
Which departments need to be cut?
Police?
Fire?
Facilities Management?
Trash pickup?
Parks and Recreation?
Health Department?
Low single digit inflation is optimum for economic growth.
Do you think your income should go up to accommodate?
Your taxes?
Who is the Musk/Trump clone who will free New Bedford from Jon’s wasteful spending?
Without the clerks, custodians, maintenance workers and food service. You have nothing. Yet they all are what keeps the schools running. The true BRAINS of the system. Degrees mean nothing “If you lack common sense.”
“We the people.” The people with common sense.
There are always openings in the school department. There is a lesson that needs to be learned.
Crappy jobs?
That’s what’s wrong is legal citizens today, they say I won’t do that. Surprise, I worked in a sweatshop for 8 of my 10 years outside of my 30+ years in the school dept. I know what it’s like to work without air-conditioning and no heat. We actually couldn’t go to the bathroom if someone else in our area went. I gave 110% and loyalty up until 2012. Then the administration headed downhill along with the employees being reliable. Now they come in off the street, want top pay and want to sit around and do nothing just collect a pay. The education system in New Bedford needs a good shake up and weeding out. Crappy jobs, someone gotta do them. At least they are working.
Lesson to be learned, since 2012 they can’t keep the employees.
Is it the students?
It’s the administration.
Techers are quitting because of the administration?
Which administrators need to be fired?
Names Pease.
Not so long ago Massachusetts had over a billion dollar budget surplus and now it’s gone. You probably want to blame that on Trump too, it’s time for Massachusetts failed far left liberal politicians and voters to wake up.
What should the state cut?
Aid to to New Bedford Schools?
Highways and bridges?
Mental health?
Police and fire?
The top heavy departments. The middle men/women are the actual workers. The top employees are overpaid.
Police and fire?
Health Department?
School department, not fire or police as far as I am aware of. I had 30 yrs +.
My sister was a teacher in NB for 30 + years. It was something she loved to do. Not for $. Her husband had plenty. Mayor Mitchell is one of the best our city has ever had. He is not there for $. Loves the city. Get it…. Love me.
Losing coworkers, unfounded reasons. Positions cut. Check with the teachers union. Yah, great place to work. NOT! Some a classroom is all they see. Working directly with the admin is a different thing. I worked it, I experienced it. I was part of the chain that had to process the problems with myself not agreeing. The director of curriculum position gone when Durkin got in office making it a multiple person job. Really!
Albert, I have given the names and the comments were removed. I used the departments and not the names and the comment was not posted. The information can be obtained by asking most employees who left the job………..bullying by administrators.
Albert, you really need to go read about the school dept paying for dead employees. Read the comments too, although comments after January school committee disappeared. Their lips are tight right now because there is so much evidence against them. Currently 85 plus or minus positions available and there’s position that are posted and reposted. Example, HCS employee relationship, ha does anyone need to wonder why? Most abused custodial dept, always looking for custodian. HCS revolving door with there own employees. The reason is right in front of there faces. The Mayor has been notified also.
Jon needs to mossie on out of New Bedford, let him move on to what he will think are bigger and better things. BYE!
The school department can’t keep help. The incoming want top pay and do nothing. Should be no more filing vacancies. Let the employees do multitasking like back in the day when, Mr. Longo was Superintendent. Now they want 4 people to process one task, instead of one employee doing 4 tasks. Mr. Longo was the best.
Stop creating high paying jobs in the school department, having multiple people doing what 1 person used to do alone. Top heavy, positions need to be cut not created.