WESTFIELD — The City Council voted to cut $1.174 million from the fiscal 2025 budget during a June 13 meeting. The cuts were made in retiree benefits, employee health insurance, the Engineering Department and in the salary lines of vacant positions in public works.
Councilors made their cuts from a $179 million budget proposed by Mayor Michael McCabe, which would have represented a 4.8% increase from the adjusted fiscal 2024 budget.
Councilor Bridget Matthews-Kane, who chairs the council’s Finance Committee, said during public hearings on the budget, the committee had already agreed to a cut of $40,000 for medical testing in the Fire and Ambulance departments. She proposed adopting the budget as amended, and opened the floor to further cuts.
