Press Release  Auditor Bump Meets With Massachusetts Female Mayors to Discuss Major Issues Impacting Municipalities

Boston — On Monday, June 19^th, State Auditor Suzanne M. Bump invited all female mayors from across the Commonwealth to her office for lunch and a discussion about the work of her office, and the issues facing their communities. The mayors in attendance were Donna Holaday of Newburyport, Linda Tyer of Pittsfield, Stephanie Muccini Burke of Medford, and Sefatia Romeo Theken of Gloucester.

During the meeting, Bump and the Mayors discussed issues impacting their communities, such as water infrastructure funding, education funding, and commonalities of the budgeting challenges faced by municipalities across the Commonwealth, and shared best practices and leadership strategies.

Earlier this year, Bump released a report which found that Massachusetts communities have total water infrastructure spending needs in excess of $17 billion. In that report, Bump calls on the state to develop new measures to help municipalities meet these needs. In addition, much of the conversation during the meeting focused on challenges related to education. Bump’s Division of Local Mandates is currently working on a report analyzing regional schools in the Commonwealth, which will provide recommendations to assist municipalities.

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