FY27 Budget Planning

At a glance

What: the first joint City Council and School Committee roundtable on the City's FY27 budget, on November 10, 2025, built on a presentation, "FY27 Budget Planning Amid Economic Headwinds."
Key numbers: a 2.1 percent decrease target for departmental budgets; the City is close to $173 million below its levy capacity (per the City Manager) but the margin is shrinking; 7 percent levy growth was described as sustainable for now; a $5 million stabilization fund; school federal grants are a small share, with no impact expected until late FY27 or FY28.
Where it stands: discussion only (a roundtable takes no votes except to adjourn). Mayor Simmons suggested another roundtable soon, and the school budget number was hoped for by the end of the calendar year.
Next: later budget cycles; see FY28 Budget Planning for the following year's roundtable (October 2026).

Staff framed it as a multi-year problem needing efficiencies, a cultural change for departments, and early communication with the community (Claire Spinner, Taha Jennings, Huang).
Council questions: how programs will be evaluated before cuts (McGovern); free cash use (Siddiqui); projections and delays to projects such as the Cycling Safety Ordinance (Azeem, Watkins); protecting essential services and students (Sobrinho-Wheeler); budget town halls, capital savings and the stabilization strategy (Zusy); a program audit and scrutiny of capital projects such as the Kennedy Longfellow School (Wilson); effectiveness of programs (Nolan).
Schools: Superintendent David Murphy said the schools will take the same approach; School Committee members asked for the school budget figure, for city and school budgets to be viewed together, for transparency about cuts, and for protection of vulnerable students.

Presentation and discussion; no votes except adjournment (Council 8-0 with one absent; School Committee 7-0).