These graphs show the percentages of cuts of the Town Administrator's FY21 June 8th Amended Budget. It is showing a budget proposal that will be worked on in Fin com and eventually brought to the Town Meeting. The images compare the June 8th numbers to the FY20 budgeted numbers (on the left) and the FY21 Preliminary Budget (on the right.)
Concerns:
Why are there different perspectives on the same numbers?
What are the rationale that supports each point of comparison?
It is typical to use the previous years budget as a starting place. During a normal budget cycle, a preliminary budget is then suggested with what is needed for the coming year added onto what was spent last year. The new preliminary budget is then looked at next to projected revenue sources. Changes made next to ensure the most important services on all fronts are addressed. This year there is a drastic change in the revenue projections and as such a debate about what budget (FY20 or FY21 Preliminary) the June 8th Town Administrator's amended budget should be compared to.