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Mayor Michelle Wu submitted Boston's Fiscal Year 2027 Recommended Annual Operating Budget of $4.9 billion and a five-year Capital Plan (FY27-FY31) of $4.4 billion to the City Council on April 6, 2026. The budget prioritizes protecting essential city services and long-term stability while navigating challenging fiscal conditions including rising costs, slowing revenue growth, and inflationary pressures within Massachusetts' constrained municipal revenue limitations. The comprehensive budget document includes detailed operating budget information, revenue analysis, education funding, capital planning, and departmental breakdowns across four volumes.
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The FY25 Operating Budget totals $4.64 billion, representing an 8% ($345 million) increase over FY24, driven primarily by property tax revenue growth which accounts for 71% of estimated revenue. Of the budget increase, 25% is allocated to education (Boston Public Schools and charter school tuition), 31% to departmental expenses and strategic investments including the integration of the Boston Planning and Development Agency, 18% to pension and debt service, and 26% to a reserve for collective bargaining. The budget emphasizes maintaining basic city services, public safety, climate response, and affordability through sound fiscal management and service improvements.
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The FY17 Recommended Operating Budget totals $2.97 billion, representing a 4.0% increase ($114.8 million) over FY16, driven primarily by local revenue sources including property taxes and local receipts that comprise 93% of revenue growth. Expenditure growth is concentrated in City Departments, Boston Public Schools (35% of spending), and the Public Health Commission, increasing by only 1.5% over FY16 due to expiring collective bargaining agreements, while the budget maintains the city's fiscal management while reinvesting savings into targeted initiatives. Revenue continues to be dominated by the net property tax levy (68% of total revenue) and state aid (15%), with state revenue growth remaining modest at 1.9% following the previous recession.
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The City of Boston's Fiscal Year 2024 Operating Budget totals $4.28 billion, accompanied by a $4.2 billion five-year Capital Plan for FY24-FY28, submitted by Mayor Michelle Wu and managed by Chief Financial Officer Ashley Groffenberger and the Office of Budget Management. The budget document is structured in three volumes covering the city's financial position, policy direction, and detailed departmental budgets and capital projects organized by cabinet. The budget received the GFOA Distinguished Budget Presentation Award and includes comprehensive information on revenue estimates, education funding, capital planning, and financial management across all city departments.
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This document is a guide to the organization of Boston city government and the FY17 Operating Budget, explaining the city's structure under its 1909 Charter with Mayor Martin J. Walsh as chief executive and the Boston City Council as the legislative body consisting of thirteen members. The document outlines the Mayor's cabinet structure, which organizes city government into functional areas including Administration & Finance (overseen by the Chief Financial Officer), Information & Technology (through the Department of Innovation and Technology), Education (coordinated by the Chief of Education), and Operations (managed by the Chief of Operations), designed to streamline government operations and eliminate duplication.
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