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Community Health and Public Safety

Public health and public safety must be intertwined to provide the services our communities need.

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The City and its community partners work to keep Boston the safest major city in the country.

Health and Safety Services

The FY26 Budget continues to make sure that our first responders are well trained. It's also important that they be reflective of the communities they serve. First responders will continue to innovate on and expand alternative safety responses. To support these goals, the budget includes:

  • New BPD community teams in the neighborhoods who will collaborate with community stakeholders. These teams will improve quality of life, increase trust, and reduce violence.
  • BPD will hire replacement classes in Winter and Spring of 2026. They will also recruit diverse youth for the next Cadet class.
  • Fire will include the first eligible cohort of Cadets in its Fall 2025 replacement class.
  • Continued support for EMTs to improve response times.

EMT swearing in

The Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) focuses on community health. The Commission will continue to: 

  • Support residents struggling with substance use disorder and homelessness,
  • Use opioid settlement funds and the BPHC operating funds to reduce opioid overdoses
  • Partner with local business organizations to target syringe collection in local business districts.

To provide City programs for residents of all ages:

  • The Age Strong Commission will use state funding and the operating budget to provide senior programming. The programming aims to reduce social isolation for older adults throughout our neighborhoods. 
  • The FY26 youth jobs budget will maintain the City’s robust commitment to youth jobs. This successful program guarantees a job to every BPS student who wants one.
  • The Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture will add $300K of city funds to $1.05M in philanthropic funding to sustain and expand Boston Family Days ensuring youth have access to cultural enrichment.

Safer Streets and Transportation

The City wants to make sure all residents can safely and reliably get around Boston. The FY26-30 Capital Plan includes significant investment in our neighborhood streets, public sidewalks, and open space. This includes:

  • $92 million for annual resurfacing and reconstruction of our streets, including sidewalk improvements and curb realignment of neighborhood streets.
  • $44 million for the construction of ADA compliant ramps and other sidewalk improvements, ensuring an easy and comfortable pedestrian experience.
  • $31.3 million for the continued reconstruction of Cummins Highway. This will improve lighting, add new pedestrian ramps, and new street trees.
  • $15 million dedicated to the Safety Surge program. This will support safety improvements such as speed humps, traffic signals, raised crosswalks, and more.
  • $57 million for neighborhood and community based traffic calming and street safety improvements.
  • $154 million to advance of over 45 parks, playgrounds, and sports fields, including Murphy Field, Codman Square, Billings Field, and Ceylon Park.

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A Patriots Fan enjoying safe streets.

Learn more about the budget

FY26 Executive Summary
FY26 Operating Budget
FY26-30 Capital Plan
FY26 Featured Analyses
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