Haverhill City Council Approves $235.7M Budget, Raises Mayor's Pay to $150,000

HAVERHILL — June 13, 2023 — Haverhill's City Council approved a $235.7 million FY2024 budget and raised the mayor's salary to $150,000 at its June 13 meeting. The council voted 8-1 to pass the spending plan, with Councilor Mary-Ellen Bevelacqua the lone dissenter, after Mayor James Fiorentini presented what he called his "20th and last balanced budget in a row" without an override or service cuts. The budget includes $1.63 million in new school department funding — the largest school appropriation in city history — four additional firefighters at the Water Street station, and a $1 million boost for road and sidewalk improvements. A separate 8-1 vote immediately set the mayor's salary at $150,000, defeating a phased $125,000-first proposal 3-6. The council also voted 6-3 to raise school committee member salaries from $8,000 to $12,000, and 9-0 to name a new Bradford park near the Como Bridge "First Nations Park," on the recommendation of the Native American Commemorative Task Force. CFO Angel Perkins received widespread praise from councilors for steering the budget process.