Jarvie proposes financial management review

Like many communities across the Commonwealth, Westford is facing similar budget pressures – rising healthcare and retirement costs in addition to limited state aid and mandates. So the question must be asked. Are we doing everything we can to operate as efficiently and effectively as possible? If you ask me, I believe more can and should be done. I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again. Our community can only benefit from reaching out to the Massachusetts Department of Revenue Division of Local Services (DLS) and making a formal request for a FREE financial management review. That’s right, FREE! A financial management review is a study of a municipality’s financial operations and condition to determine its strengths and weaknesses. The DLS has been a resource for local officials on matters of municipal finance, technology and government structure for over 25 years. You may be just as surprised as I was when I first learned the last time Westford conducted a similar review was back in 1985. To continue to delay this action is a disservice to the taxpayers (residential and commercial) and a threat to Westford’s commitment to providing our children with a quality education and all residents with essential town services.

Financial management reviews can help communities:

·       Operate more efficiently and effectively

·       Improve budget and capital planning procedures

·       Cost-out municipal services and analyze user fees

·       Expand the use of technology

·       Improve cash management

·       Analyze school finance and regionalization impacts

·       Analyze shared cost and service consolidation impacts

·       Restructure municipal government

For more information regarding the Department of Revenue Financial Management Assistance Program, click here - http://1.usa.gov/1bLj6AA