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.

In order to address Worcester's FY03 anticipated budget shortfall, cost reductions and fundamental changes in the delivery of municipal services are explored.

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.

Changes are needed to the FY01 budget in order to avoid higher taxes.

A review of municipal employee health benefit contributions paid by municipalities across the Commonwealth.

In order to reduce Worcester's extraordinarily high tax rate, a hindrance to attracting and expanding commercial and industrial development, the Research Bureau urges City officials to adopt a policy of gradually reducing the commercial/industrial and residential tax rates over a period of years.

This report contends that, in order to stimulate economic development, Worcester should focus on prudent financial management, develop a concrete plan for providing property tax relief, and foster a healthier economic climate.

Worcester's tax rates are compared to similar and surrounding cities and towns.

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.

Should the City Manager recommend a new class of firefighters at a time of budget constraints and a decreasing number of structure fires?