Mayor Andre Sayegh’s administration secured the City Council’s approval of a $44.77 million temporary budget, second since the start of the fiscal year in July.
Council members approved the temporary budget without opposition on Tuesday night. The temporary budget funds the government from October through November.
At the end of November, the city will have spent $111.34 million, according to municipal records. The city is spending $22.26 million per month.
Last fiscal year, the city’s budget was $283.36 million.
Municipal officials concluded departmental budget hearings on Monday night. Administration officials hope to present an introduced budget to the City Council in late October.
Council members on Tuesday night said the city faces a deficit of more than $50 million. More than half of the deficit will be filled by transitional aid from the state. Finance director Marge Cherone said she does not have a concrete deficit amount for the fiscal year 2019 budget.
Cherone said the transitional aid application is due on Oct. 19. She said the administration will need an approved introduced budget from the council to submit the application to the state.
Last year, the city received $27 million in transitional aid from the state. Sayegh has said his administration planned to apply for much more.
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