FY2022 City Council Legislative Budget review
We'll be updating this page with information regarding the Fiscal Year 2022 Budget Review Process.
A message from the chair
Councilor Kenzie Bok, the Ways and Means Chair for the Boston City Council, released a video about this year’s FY22 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 FY21. The upcoming fiscal year will be FY22.
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 approximately 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 broadcast on Xfinity Channel 8, RCN Channel 82, and Fios Channel 964.
While participation in working sessions is limited to Councilors only (with the exception of the Community Working Session), 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 #0524-0531 and companion Dockets #0532-0546. After each event, the video and relevant materials will be posted on the public notice page.
|
Topic |
Working session |
Public hearing |
|---|---|---|
|
Admin & Finance: Budget Overview Presentation (incl. Revenue Overview) |
N/A |
|
|
Community Working Session: What are Your Questions on the Budget? |
N/A |
|
|
Boston Public Schools (BPS): Budget Overview Presentation |
N/A |
|
|
BPS School Budgets |
N/A |
|
|
Public Testimony: What are Your Priorities for an Equitable Recovery? |
N/A |
|
|
Law Department Law Revolving Fund Office of Arts & Culture A&C Revolving Funds Office of Tourism, Sports & Entertainment Tourism Revolving Fund |
N/A |
|
|
Capital Overview Public Facilities Department (PFD) |
N/A |
|
|
Environment Department Environment Revolving Funds Conservation Commission Landmarks |
||
|
Boston Police Department BPD Revolving Funds |
||
|
BPS Commitment #1 (I): Eliminate Opportunity & Achievement Gaps – Overall Alignment & Wraparound Supports |
||
|
BPS Commitment #1 (II): Eliminate Opportunity & Achievement Gaps – Specialized Academic Supports |
||
|
Boston Centers for Youth & Families BCYF Revolving Fund |
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|
Food Access, Language and Communications Access, Office of Immigrant Advancement, Human Rights Commission, Age Strong Commission |
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|
BPS Commitment #2: Accelerate Learning |
||
|
BPS Commitment #3: Amplify All Voices BPS Commitment #4: Expand Opportunity BPS Revolving Funds |
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|
Economic Development Boston Equity Fund Women’s Advancement |
||
|
Library |
||
|
Public Works Department Transportation Department |
||
|
Department of Neighborhood Development Office of Fair Housing & Equity |
||
|
BPS Commitment #5: Cultivate Trust BPS Commitment #6: Activate Partnerships |
||
|
BPS Public Testimony |
N/A |
|
|
Carryover - Boston Police Department |
N/A |
|
|
Boston Fire Department |
||
|
Boston Emergency Medical Services Boston Public Health Commission (incl. Recovery Services) Office of Health & Human Services |
||
|
Youth Engagement & Employment |
||
|
Inspectional Services Department |
||
|
Parks and Recreation Department Parkman Fund |
||
|
Department of Innovation & Technology PEG Access Fund |
||
|
Public Testimony (All Departments) |
N/A |
|
|
Boston Planning & Development Agency |
Schedule of Budget Resubmittal hearings
The City Council rejected the initial FY22 budget submission without prejudice on June 9, 2021. The Mayor resubmitted the FY22 budget on June 23, 2021.
The FY22 resubmittal Dockets are #0801-0805. The Committee on Ways and Means will be holding hearings and working sessions on these dockets, as well as related matters. These include:
- Dockets #0810 and #0687, regarding grants from the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund, and
- Docket #0725, regarding COLA for retirees.
We're following this schedule:
- Working Session: Friday, June 25, 2021, at 3:30 p.m.
- Public Hearing: Monday, June 28, 2021, at 1 p.m.
- Working Session: Tuesday, June 29, 2021, 10 a.m.
Please note: Working sessions do not include public comment periods. Public testimony is encouraged via email, video, and live via Zoom at the public hearing on June 28. Learn how to testify.
