Budget Basics
The two main parts of Boston’s city budget.
What are the operating and capital budgets?
BPR funding would come from the operating budget, salaries/services
The person who creates the initial budget proposal each April.
Who is the Mayor?
The month when the Mayor releases their proposed budget.
What is April?
What org proposed, organized, and advocated for an initial $75M of amendments to the city council that helped lead to a win of $8.2M in 2024?
Better Budget Alliance
The total amount of Boston’s FY25 operating budget.
What is $4.64 billion?
Our $4M ask is 0.09% of this total
The number of City Council votes needed to override a mayoral veto.
What is 9?
The deadline for the City Council to submit amendments to the Mayor
What is the second Wednesday in June?
What was the first year councilors were able to amend budget proposals?
2022
The percentage of Boston’s budget that comes from property taxes.
What is 74%?
When we say ‘our tax dollars,’ this is mostly what we mean
The chair of the Ways and Means committee?
Bonus 10 points for each member your group can name.
Who is City Councilor Brian Worrell
These public meetings in May, where we can speak directly to the Councilors.
What are City Council budget hearings?
In 2023, what was the initial budget passed by city councilors of 31 million from police intended to be used for?
PB, youth jobs, housing, and more
The percentage of the budget that City Council cannot amend (fixed costs).
What is 22%?
Before 2021, City Council could only do this to the Mayor’s budget.
What is vote it up or down (all-or-nothing)?
The fiscal year for Boston’s budget runs from this month to this month.
What is July 1 to June 30?
How much was the city council able to pass in amendments in 2025 and what was it for?
9.05 million for housing and youth jobs
The Police Department's estimated share of Boston's overall budget.
What is 12.3% or $415M?
These are the three main ways we can influence the budget process.
What is testifying at hearings, meeting with councilors, and organizing actions.
All three are part of our campaign map.
The portion of the operating budget that Council can amend through line items.
What is 44%?
What were the budget wins of 2022?
Councilors passed $2 million in amendments (to the Office of Black Male Advancement, youth workers and city subsidies). We also won a $5M reallocation from the Police budget.