Milford Mayor Rich Smith has announced the implementation of a spending and hiring freeze for all city Departments effective April 1, according to a release. He has requested city grant agencies, as well as the Board of Education to take the same or similar budgetary controls.
“As we enter the last quarter of fiscal year 25/26, we face pressing budget challenges, some resulting from new labor contracts the city entered last year as well as increasing health care costs, rising operational costs, an unusually difficult winter as well as other current economic conditions. This hiring and spending freeze will serve to steady the financial landscape as we work within the final quarter of FY 25/26 budget,” Smith said.
The following spending controls were enacted:
– A freeze on all new hires, including seasonal/temporary, and vacant positions will not be filled for the remainder of the fiscal year without approval of the mayor.
– No transfers out of wage accounts.
– No transfers out of utility and fuel accounts.
– A spending freeze on all non-essential operational or capital expenditures.
– Out of state travel will be frozen except for that which was previously approved.
– Overtime must be used only in an emergency or under extenuating circumstances. Use of overtime must be controlled by department heads.
“I understand these fiscal constraints may present challenges, but I’d like to thank the department heads and all city personnel for their flexibility and support of this initiative as we look to a smooth landing to close out FY 25/26 and on to FY 26/27,” Smith added.
Milford is currently in the final stages of adopting a new budget for the coming fiscal year.