2008

Worcester's FY09 Budget: Continuing the Reform Agenda

This report, produced annually, reviews the City's FY09 budget and provides suggestions for increasing revenues and decreasing expenditures in the City.

2007

Cutting to the Core: Rethinking Municipal Services in FY08 and Beyond

Since the City’s budget projections indicate that the current $21 million revenue

shortfall will not be unique to this year, and that current revenue sources will not match increasing costs, it is necessary to rethink government services and operations. The Research Bureau proposes that the City identify and reduce services that are not part of the core mission of municipal government. The report also identifies how other municipal operations could be provided more efficiently.

Benchmarking Municipal Finance in Worcester: Factors Affecting the City's Bond Rating

This report examines six indicators of municipal fiscal health that are key determinants of a municipality's bond rating. Worcester's current bond rating of low A is in jeopardy due to thinning reserves and other financial issues facing the City.

2006
How Can Worcester Insure its Fiscal Health in FY07 and Beyond? 156KB
Report No. 06-02
Suggestions for addressing projected budget shortfalls through cost controls, restructuring services, and increasing revenues.

2005
The FY06 Budget: Are Increasing Taxes and Reducing Services the Only Options? 59KB
Report No. 05-02
Describes Worcester's cost reductions and municipal service improvements, and offers suggestions for additional improvements.

Condition Serious, Prognosis Uncertain: The Impact of Municipal Employee Health Insurance in Massachusetts 229KB
Report No. 05-01
Compares Worcester's municipal health benefits with towns in the Worcester vicinity, 28 larger cities and towns in Massachusetts, regional and national averages, and data from private employers.See Appendix 28KB comparative data from surveyed cities and towns.

2004
Worcester's FY05 Budget: More Tough Questions 90KB
Report No. 04-06
Worcester faces numerous financial challenges moving forward with the FY05 budget and beyond.

Tax Rate Comparison for Massachusetts Cities
Compare Worcester's commercial and residential tax rates with other Massachusetts cities and surrounding communities.

Will PILOTs Fly in Worcester? Taxing Nonprofits and Other Options 318KB
Report No. 04-04
This report examines the potential costs and benefits of a Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) program in Worcester.

The FY04 Budget: Did Worcester Make the Tough Choices? 701KB
Report No. 04-01
Examines how Worcester closed its $20+ million dollar budget gap and compares those decisions with earlier Research Bureau recommendations. This is a follow up report to Tough Choices for Tough Times: The FY04 Budget from March 2003.

2003
The Use and Abuse of User Fees and Charges 346KB
Report No. 03-04
Discusses the different kinds of fees, their proper use, and the methods for calculating them.

Tough Choices for Tough Times: Worcester's FY04 Budget 725KB
Report No. 03-02
Discusses Worcester's FY04 budget and proposes several options for reducing expenditures, including restructuring municipal employee health insurance and pension benefits, restructuring other public safety benefits, and reorganizing public safety departments.

2002
Addressing the Projected Budget Shortfall in FY03 96KB
Report 02-2
In order to address Worcester's FY03 anticipated budget shortfall, cost reductions and fundamental changes in the delivery of municipal services are explored.

2001
City Facing $5 Million Deficit in FY02: Taxes May Increase 67KB
Report No. 01-2
In its yearly analysis of the City's revenue and expenditure projections, the Research Bureau makes a number of recommendations to reduce expenditures and increase revenues.

2000
Observations on the City Manager's FY01 Budget
Changes are needed to the FY01 budget in order to avoid higher taxes. Public officials develop a multi-year financial plan that is committed to a gradual reduction in each year's tax rate.

1999
Worcester's Commercial/Industrial Property Tax Rates Top Comparable Cities and Surrounding Towns
Report No. 99-5
Worcester's tax rates are compared to similar and surrounding cities and towns.

Observations on the City Manager's FY00 Budget 78KB
Report No. 99-4
Worcester need prudent financial management and a concrete plan for providing property tax relief, and the creation of a healthy economic climate that would faster economic development.

1998
Budget Busters Create Deficit in FY00 45KB
Report No. 98-7
Recommends that Worcester takes steps to bring the budget under control, and ensure that annual expenditures be kept at or below the rate of inflation.

FY99 and Beyond: City's Financial Difficulties Abound
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1997

Should Nonprofit Organizations Make Payments in Lieu of Taxes?

The Case for and AgainstSho Non Profit Organizations Make Payments in Lieu of Taxes? The Case For and Against

Worcester Facing Critical Choices in FY98 Budget
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1996
Worcester's Finances Problematic for FY97
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1995
City's Financial Outlook Remains Clouded for FY96
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1994
City's Financial Outlook Clouded for FY95
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1993
More Reductions in Services Projected for FY94
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1992
City's Financial Outlook Bleak for FY93
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1991
FY92: Reduction in Revenues May Lead to 10% Cut in Services
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Cutting Worcester's Health Insurance Costs
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1990
City Faces Potential Revenue Shortfall in FY91
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1989
City Faces Potential Revenue Shortfall in FY90
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1987
City Faces Potential Revenue Shortfall in FY89
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Public Employee Pensions Disabling City
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Real Estate Transfer Tax: The Case For and Against
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Worcester's Salary Schedule Needs Periodic Weighing
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1986
The Aftermath of Proposition 2 1/2: Shrinking Revenues and Increased Dependence
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City Faces Potential Loss of $4 Million in Revenue Sharing Funds
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