Cambridge spending $2.7M on adding new employees

As part of the largest budget increase in the city’s history, Cambridge council added nearly 27 additional full-time equivalent staff at a cost of about $2.7 million annually.

That’s equivalent to about a 2.4 per cent budget increase, though the city says costs in 2024 were offset by new assessment growth and other funding sources to bring the 2024 impact down to $747,033.

“This includes application of alternative funding sources such as direct offsetting savings, additional user fee/program revenue, and specific reserve funds,” budget chair Coun. Nicholas Ermeta said in an email.

The city recorded assessment growth of 2.2 per cent — or about $2.4 million — and used that in part to bring the impact of 26.6 new FTE staff on the tax bill down to .7 per cent of the tax hike.

That brings staffing at the city to almost 814 full-time equivalents.

“This increase in staffing is to have the city continue to provide the same consistent level of service to our growing community, along with other positive benefits,” Ermeta said.

New staff positions include:

■ Three additional FTEs in corporate services;

■ Additional FTEs in community development totalling 8.8;

■ Infrastructure services additions of 9.7 FTEs;

■ A team of five security guards to patrol the city, in part to police people experiencing homelessness.

Council approved a 7.2 per cent budget hike in February, which adds $111 to the average home assessed at $333,200.

Council approved a 7.2% budget hike in February, which adds $111 to the average home assessed at $333,200