Elected officials and city employees are looking to a handful of residents to help solve Newton's financial problems.
Pointing to a near-fat-free budget and a $125 million deficit over the next five years, those who spend hours with the city's budget each year know that the task isn't easy.
But School Committee member Dori Zaleznik said outsiders may see cases where the schools or city can save.
"Any time you have an organization as complex as the Newton public schools or the city of Newton, there are bound to be things that could be done in a different way," she said. "To me, it's always a good thing to have smart people, who don't have an ax to grind, take a look."
Modeled after the Blue Ribbon Commission, the Citizens Advisory Group is charged with helping identify innovative ways of increasing short- and long-term operational efficiency and effectiveness.
Alderman Marcia Johnson originally proposed the idea of the Citizens Advisory Group because she was reluctant to support an override when all cost-saving opportunities weren't investigated or realized.
The group will begin meeting in early June, and expects to have a report done before the end of the calendar year.
The 14-member committee includes former Blue Ribbon Commission members, educators, a management consultant, an accountant, authors and more.
"We are fortunate to have a distinguished group of residents who have answered the call to serve, who care about our city, and who are well qualified to provide us with important fiscal advice and guidance," Mayor David Cohen said in a statement.
Chrissie Long can be reached at clong@cnc.com.
