Some city aldermen are frustrated that the Budget Review Committee has not yet made its recommendation on the mayor’s proposed $230 million budget for 2013, especially since the fiscal year has already begun.

“I am ready to vote,” Ward 3 Alderman Diane Sheehan said Tuesday. “We’ve had plenty of time. It would appear that some people don’t want things to move forward.”

In years past, Sheehan said, the budget was approved more quickly, expressing his frustration in the numerous wrap-up sessions by the Budget Review Committee and its delay in making a recommendation to go before the full Board of Aldermen for final approval.

“There is a lot of procrastination just for the sake of procrastination,” she added. “It is extremely frustrating.”

The Budget Review Committee has been studying the mayor’s proposed budget at length, and was scheduled to meet Monday night to possibly vote on its recommendation to the full board.

However, because of the holiday week, several committee members are out of town and the meeting was canceled. It will most likely be rescheduled for Monday, according to city officials. Furthermore, at least one board member is still waiting to obtain additional budget information requested nearly three weeks ago.

“I still need more information to make some decisions,” said Alderman-at-Large Mark Cookson. “There are still opportunities for efficiencies within the budget, and I think we should take advantage of that.”

Specifically, Cookson has asked city staff for trending information from each department’s telecommunications line item throughout the past five years, which includes city cell phone usage. He is also seeking data on electricity, water and utility use.

While Cookson agrees that it would be convenient to have the budget approved before the fiscal year, which began on Sunday, he does not feel comfortable voting on the proposed budget until obtaining all of the necessary information.

Cookson is hopeful that the trending statistics will be available prior to Monday’s Budget Review Committee meeting.

“If I get my data, I would be happy to support moving it forward,” explained Cookson.

Several adjustments have already been made to Mayor Donnalee Lozeau’s proposed budget of $230,607,330, including about $275,000 in proposed cuts by the committee.

The biggest reduction is $113,000 to eliminate Nashua’s CitiStat Division, a proposal that Cookson believes will be further reviewed by the full Board of Aldermen.

Alderman Brian McCarthy, president of the board, said this week that he is also “a little” frustrated by the delay.

“We like to get it done earlier if we can,” McCarthy said of the budget. “The committee has had a lot of time deliberating it, and there is plenty of information out there.”

Although the city charter states that aldermen have until August to finalize the budget, McCarthy said it is typically approved earlier.

He is optimistic that the Budget Review Committee will be ready to vote on its budget recommendation on Monday, which will enable the full Board of Aldermen to then begin its budget discussions.

Alderman-at-Large David Deane stressed there is only a small window of opportunity for the committee to review the extensive spending plan, a document that is nearly 280 pages.

“Everybody looks at things in a different light,” said Deane, who has asked numerous financial questions throughout the budget process. “I think any discussion about spending $230 million plus in taxpayer money is worthwhile.”

Lozeau’s recommended budget is up 1.5 percent from the current $227.2 million budget.

Lozeau’s recommended budget is up 1.5 percent from the current $227.2 million budget.

“This is a responsible budget,” Lozeau previously told city officials. “This budget, as provided, should again result in a less than 3 percent tax increase.”

Her proposed budget is about $554,000 below the city’s spending cap. Last year’s budget was about $979,000 below the spending cap and resulted in a 2.8 percent tax increase.

khoughton@newstote.com