FY2027 City Council Legislative Budget Review

We'll be updating this page with information regarding the Fiscal Year 2027 Budget review process.

Page Sections

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 FY26. The upcoming fiscal year will be FY27.

FY27 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 Benjamin J. Weber. 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!

Upcoming Hearings

More Upcoming FY27 Budget hearings

Full Schedule

Schedule

January - March

Topic	Public Notice
Committee Meeting: Departmental RFI	Thursday, February 12, at 10 a.m. (Piemonte Room)
Working Session: BPS RFI	Thursday, February 19, at 10 a.m. (Curley Room)
Pre-Budget Hearing: Healthcare (FY27 Projected Costs)	Thursday, February 26, at 2 p.m. (Iannella Chamber)
Working Session: BPS FY27 Budget Priorities	Monday, March 2, at 10 a.m. (Curley Room)
Policy Briefing: FY27 BPS Budget (with BPS in attendance)	Thursday, March 5, at 10 a.m. (Piemonte Room)
Pre-Budget Hearing: FY27 Look-Ahead with Mayor's Office of Housing and Mayor's Office of Immigrant Advancement	Thursday, March 5, at 2 p.m. (Iannella Chamber)
Public Testimony	Tuesday, March 10, at 6 p.m. (Iannella Chamber)
Working Session: Departmental FY27 Budget Priorities	Thursday, March 12, at 2 p.m. (Piemonte Room)
Pre-Budget Hearing: FY26 Revenue Updates + FY27 Revenue Projections	Monday, March 23, at 10 a.m. (Iannella Chamber)
Public Testimony	Tuesday, March 24, at 6 p.m. (Iannella Chamber)