FY2021 City Council Legislative Budget Review
We'll be updating this page with information regarding the Fiscal Year 2021 Budget Review Process.
A message from the chair
This year, Councilor Kenzie Bok, the Ways and Means Chair for the Boston City Council, released a video about this year’s FY21 budget scrutiny process, including information on how you can take part.
For more information about how you can testify, please visit our how-to guide:
About the process
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:
- appropriation orders for public realm improvements, and
- authorizations for land acquisition and loan orders, which support the City’s Capital Plan.
The City’s fiscal year runs from July 1 – June 30. We are currently in FY20. The upcoming fiscal year will be FY21.
The City Council reviews the Mayor’s budget proposal for approximately six weeks. This process is run by the Chair of the Committee on Ways and Means, Councilor Kenzie Bok. This year, the process will involve 20-30 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. This year, the Council review process will also include working sessions.
All the Council hearings and working sessions will be conducted virtually via Zoom, and will be livestreamed online. The public is encouraged to watch all the hearings and working sessions via the livestream or during a rebroadcast on Comcast Channel 8, RCN Channel 82, and Verizon 1964.
While participation in working sessions is limited to Councilors only, public testimony is welcome and encouraged at the hearings. See below for the hearing calendar and ways to testify!
Schedule of Budget Hearings
Please find below the dates, times, and public notices for the budget review working sessions and hearings for Dockets #0588-0596, and companion dockets. After each event, the video and any materials or public testimony received will be posted on the public notice page.
| Topic | Working Session | Public Hearing |
|---|---|---|
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Admin & Finance: Budget Overview Presentation (incl. COVID-19 impacts so far) |
N/A |
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Revenue Overview/Assessing Department (incl. COVID-19 impacts so far) |
N/A |
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Boston Public Schools (BPS): Budget Overview Presentation (incl. DESE Report/MOA and COVID-19 impacts so far) |
N/A |
|
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BPS School Budgets |
N/A |
|
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Public Testimony: Any Questions on the City Budget? |
N/A |
|
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Capital Overview/Public Facilities Department (PFD) |
Thursday, April 23, at 10 a.m. |
|
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Revolving Funds: Law, Tourism, Arts & Culture |
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BPS Commitment #1 (I): Eliminate Opportunity & Achievement Gaps – Overall Alignment & Wraparound Supports |
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BPS Commitment #1 (II): Eliminate Opportunity & Achievement Gaps – Specialized Academic Supports |
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Public Works Department Transportation Department |
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Library Boston Centers for Youth & Families BCYF Revolving Fund |
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Youth Engagement & Employment |
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Department of Neighborhood Development |
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Economic Development Boston Equity Fund |
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Environment Department Environment Revolving Fund Conservation Commission |
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Landmarks Commission |
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Parks and Recreation Department Parks Revolving Fund Parkman Fund |
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BPS Commitment #2: Accelerate Learning |
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BPS Commitment #3: Amplify All Voices BPS Commitment #4: Expand Opportunity BPS Revolving Funds |
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Boston Police Department BPD Revolving Funds Boston Fire Department Boston Emergency Medical Services |
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Boston Public Health Commission (incl. Recovery Services) |
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BPS Commitment #5: Cultivate Trust BPS Commitment #6: Activate Partnerships ESSA MOU |
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BPS Closing Opportunity Gaps in the context of COVID-19 |
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|
BPS Public Testimony |
N/A |
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Department of Innovation & Technology PEG Access Fund Inspectional Services Department |
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Boston Planning & Development Agency |
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Public Testimony (All Departments) |
N/A |
Schedule of Budget Resubmittal hearings
The Council rejected the initial budget submission without prejudice on June 3, 2020. The Mayor resubmitted the budget on June 17, 2020.
The resubmittal Dockets are #0796-0800. Prior to and for 48 hours following the resubmission, the Committee on Ways and Means can only conduct Committee Meetings, while the budget is in between docket numbers.
