Beverly council approves $333,750 in transfers to cover settled contracts; advances ordinances and selects new auditor

The Beverly City Council on Monday approved transfers totaling $333,750 from the city's FY2025 reserve for collective bargaining to cover recently ratified labor agreements and advanced several ordinances to later final votes.

The council approved a $218,000 transfer to the police department to fund a newly agreed memorandum of agreement with the Patrolmen's union and a $115,750 transfer to cover increases for members of the Beverly Municipal Employees Association. Both transfers were the subject of public hearings and passed committee and full-council votes (committee votes 3-0; full council votes recorded 9-0).

Why it matters: Council budget analysts and finance staff said the transfers are affordable within the current fiscal year but will contribute to estimated deficits in coming years, making longer-term contract costs a subject of continued attention in budget planning.

City finance director Bridal Ailes and council budget analyst Jerry Perry told the council the transfers will be paid from the FY2025 negotiated-reserve account; Perry estimated that after the two transfers and other recently approved contracts, about $153,038 would remain in that reserve. "I recommend adoption of the mayor's proposal," Perry told the council during the public hearing on the police…