BOSTON - Monday, June
7, 2021 - Building on her commitment to equity and her focus on engaging
all of Boston in the City’s governance, Mayor Kim Janey today took two
key steps to democratize Boston’s budget building process. The first
step was signing off on a ballot question to amend the City of Boston
Charter that will strike a more equal balance of budgetary powers between
the Mayor and the City Council. The amendment will now be sent to the
Attorney General’s office for placement on Boston’s municipal ballot this
November. The second step was to allocate an additional $1 million in the
City’s proposed FY ‘22 Budget, dedicated to the immediate creation of the
City’s first Office of Participatory Budgeting.
“On my first day
as Mayor, I promised to bring new voices to the table and include those
who felt shut out by City Hall,” said Mayor Janey. “Signing this charter
amendment delivers on that promise and creates a path forward for city
budgeting that is more democratic, inclusive, and transparent. I want to
thank the advocates and the Boston City Council for their partnership on
this important issue.”
The proposed
charter amendment, which Mayor Janey championed as City Council
President, received unanimous approval from the City Council in
May. If the charter amendment passes this November, both the City
Council and the Mayor will have the authority to amend the City’s budget
in whole or in part, a power currently only held by the Mayor.
Independent of the
ballot measure, the amendment also establishes the Office of Participatory
Budgeting, which will lead the Administration's efforts around expanding
opportunities for community involvement in the City’s annual budgeting
process. Guided by a community-based Participatory Budgeting Committee,
the Office will be tasked with determining resident priorities when it
comes to the City’s investments.
“CPA works to
ensure more voices are heard in government and policy making,” said Karen
Chen of the Chinese Progressive Association. “We want to commend Mayor
Janey for signing the Charter Reform amendment moving Boston towards
greater democracy and equity, where all Bostonian voices are represented
in Boston’s city budget.”
“ACE as a member
of Rights to the City of Boston appreciates Mayor Janey's leadership on
charter reform as the President of the City Council and now as the
serving Mayor of Boston. Charter reform will continue the process of
making Boston a more transparent and democratic city,” said Dwaign Tyndal
of Alternatives for Community and Environment.
“We are so grateful
for Mayor Janey’s support of this charter amendment. Participatory
budgeting will allow for residents across Boston to have direct decision
making in our tax dollars, and strengthens our city’s democracy,
transparency, and civic participation,” said Roxbury-based activist
Armani White.
Mayor Janey recently proposed a forward-looking
budget that recommended
a $3.75 billion Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) operating budget and $3.2 billion
Fiscal Year 2022-2026 (FY22-FY26) Capital Plan. The aim of the budget is
to provide the resources for the city’s continued robust public health
response to COVID-19, making strategic investments in Boston’s
neighborhoods and residents, and setting the stage for Boston’s equitable
reopening, recovery and long-term renewal. For more information on Mayor
Janey’s proposed budget, visit budget.boston.gov. |
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