The Chicopee City Council met on Thursday evening, June 23, 2016 to vote on the City of Chicopee Budget for FY 2017.

The Council voted 11 to 0 to approve the budget with the only change being a request from the Sewer Department to cut $100,000 from the Combined Sewer Overflow Special Account for SRF Ineligible Costs. The original budget request prepared was based on the new sewer rates with an effective date of July 1, 2016 and the rates just passed by the City Council become effective October 1, 2016.

In an unprecedented move the City Council approved a request from Mayor Kos to allocate $1.25 million in the budget for the Chicopee Public Schools which faced a $4.8 million deficit. The additional funding coupled with cost saving measures will prevent any personnel layoffs, meaning no teachers will lose their jobs.

The budget will see a 3.08% increase in spending, or an additional $5,491,075.80 in comparison with the 2016 fiscal year.

“This budget allows us to maintain the excellent level of services for our residents,” said City Council President John Vieau. “I thank the Mayor for a seamless budget process and look forward to what we can accomplish in the next fiscal year.”

“Working together we have addressed the needs of our City by continuing to provide the services our residents have come to expect, while preventing any teachers from being laid off,” said Mayor Kos. “I want to thank President Vieau and his colleagues for their support of this budget.”