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ATTLEBORO - He's predicting a tough budget year ahead, but Mayor Kevin Dumas laid out an ambitious agenda for the coming term in his inaugural address on Tuesday.

Saying he aims to make Attleboro "the best community in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts," Dumas put improvements to public safety and schools at the top of a long list of "goals and objectives" that also includes infrastructure upgrades and a "hands-on, vigorous" effort to bringing new business downtown.

Pushing forward on major projects such as downtown revitalization and the industrial business park, both now under way, are other main goals.

Last year, the city council added slots for police officers and firefighters, and this year Dumas said he hopes to fill those slots, as well as adding money to the school budget, a goal the mayor said he considers key to the city's future.

"If we expect to rehabilitate the city, the schools are an important piece to the puzzle," Dumas said. "Tough times are on our doorstep, but this will not prevent me from setting goals and objectives," he told a crowd of about 300 people gathered for inaugural ceremonies at the high school. "The status quo is not sufficient in my eyes. Today, I have no less confidence than I did four years ago that we will continue to move forward."

Dumas also said he wants to bring a hotel to the industrial business park, to rehabilitate Veteran's Memorial Park in South Attleboro and restore Blackinton Park.

He also aims to redesign the intersection of Holden and North Main streets without a traffic signal. Past proposals to install traffic signals caused a storm of controversy.

The mayor made it clear he expects money to be a problem, but he's hoping to find new revenue sources and areas to save money by working closely with department heads and city councilors.

"The next fiscal year will be a tough one to weather. The most recent information from the state is not to expect much, if any, increase in state aid," Dumas said. "I will work with all departments to try and meet our goals. I will continue to examine areas for cost saving measures."

Dumas, who is beginning his third term after his second consecutive landslide re-election, took the oath of office from Lt. Gov. Tim Murray during ceremonies infused with music provided by middle and high school students.

The ceremony was kicked off with a processional led by color guards.

Some of Dumas' other goals are to:

Create a dog park.

Rebuild Pitas Avenue bridge. Create a monthly cable TV program to highlight city departments and work with the Youth Commission to implement their ideas.

GEORGE W. RHODES can be reached at 508-236-0432 or at grhodes@thesunchronicle.com.