FY2026 City Council Legislative Budget Review
We'll be updating this page with information regarding the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget review process.
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Have questions? Contact:
City Council
About the Process
Creation and Approval of the Municipal Budget
The Boston City Charter lays out the responsibilities and timeline for creation and approval of the City budget. The Mayor is in charge of creating the annual City operating budget, and submitting it to the City Council no later than the second Wednesday in April of each year. The City Council is responsible for reviewing this budget proposal, and voting on it no later than the second Wednesday in June. The Mayor also submits to the Council dockets related to spending and borrowing money and acquiring land to support the City's Capital Plan.
The City’s fiscal year runs from July 1 – June 30. We are currently in FY25. The upcoming fiscal year will be FY26.
FY26 City Council Review Process
The City Council begins planning and advocating for the budget in January. After the Mayor submits her budget proposal in April, the Council reviews the Mayor’s budget proposal from the middle of April until June. This process is run by the Chair of the Committee on Ways and Means, Councilor Brian J. Worrell. This year, the process will involve approximately 35 public hearings, during which time the Council will hear from the departments that comprise the greatest percentage of the operating budget, as well as a few smaller departments. These hearings will also cover revolving funds and other budget-related appropriations. The Council will also have working sessions to discuss Councilors' budget priorities and potential amendments.
Council hearings will be held in the Iannella Chamber, on the fifth floor of Boston City Hall. The public is encouraged to watch all the hearings in person or via livestream or broadcast on Xfinity Channel 8, RCN Channel 82, and Fios 964.
Public testimony is welcomed and encouraged at all departmental hearings, as well as at dedicated public testimony hearings. See below for the hearing calendar and ways to testify!
Full Schedule
Schedule| Topic | Public Notice |
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| Working Session: BPS RFI | Monday, February 3, at 10 a.m. (Piemonte Room) |
| Working Session: Departmental RFI | Monday, February 10, at 2 p.m. (Piemonte Room) |
| Public Testimony | |
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Working Session: BPS Budget Priorities |
Monday, February 24, at 10 a.m. (Curley Room) |
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FY26 Revenue + FY25 Revenue to Date |
Thursday, February 27, at 10 a.m. (Iannella Chamber) |
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Working Session: BPS Budget Priorities (with BPS)
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Monday, March 3, at 2 p.m. (Piemonte Room) |
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Working Session: Departmental Budget Priorities |
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Working Session: Departmental Budget Priorities #2 |
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Public Testimony |
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Working Session: Budget Data |
| Topic | Public Notice |
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Boston Public Schools (BPS)
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Boston Public Schools (BPS)
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Boston Public Schools (BPS)
BPS Facilities Revolving Fund BPS Transportation Revolving Fund |
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Boston Public Schools (BPS)
BPS Technology Revolving Fund |
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| Operating Overview | |
| Capital Overview | |
| Public Testimony | |
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Office of Equity Black Male Advancement Fair Housing and Equity Women’s Advancement |
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Immigrant Advancement Language and Communications Access (LCA) Commission for Persons with Disabilities Human Rights Commission LGBTQIA2S+ Advancement |
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Economic Opportunity and Inclusion (OEOI) Supplier Diversity |
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Consumer Affairs and Licensing Tourism, Sports and Entertainment Tourism Revolving Fund |
| Topic | Public Notice |
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Department of Innovation & Technology (DOIT) PEG Access Fund |
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Environment Department Office of Food Justice Conservation Commission Revolving Fund Distributed Energy Revolving Fund |
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| Working Session | |
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Inspectional Services Department (ISD) Property Management Public Facilities Department (PFD) |
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| Office of Police Accountability and Transparency (OPAT) | |
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Boston Centers for Youth and Families (BCYF) Office of Human Services
BCYF Revolving Fund |
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Boston Public Library (BPL) Arts & Culture Revolving Fund |
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Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC)
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Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC)
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| Planning Department | |
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Labor Compliance and Worker Protections Law Department Third Party Property Damage Revolving Fund |
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| Boston Fire Department (BFD) | |
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People Operations Election Department |
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Boston Police Department (BPD)
Canine Revolving Fund Fitness Center Revolving Fund |
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Boston Police Department (BPD)
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| Working Session | |
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Treasury Department
Participatory Budget (PB) |
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| Mayor’s Office of Housing (MOH) | |
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Parks and Recreation Parkman Fund |
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Boston Transportation Department (BTD) Public Works Department (PWD) |
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Age Strong Veteran Services |
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Office of Human Services
Office of Workforce Development Youth Employment and Opportunity |
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Office of Neighborhood Services (ONS)
SPARK Boston |
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Office of Human Services
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| Capital Overview | |
| Public Testimony | |
| Working Session | |
| Working Session |
| Topic | Public Notice |
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| Working Session | |
| Working Session |
Letters from the Chair
Letters from the Chair
Related links
Related
Who's Involved:
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Have questions? Contact:
City Council
