MAYOR WU UNVEILS FIRST CITY BUDGET AND $350 MILLION FEDERAL SPENDING PLAN, TO DELIVER ON THE DETAILS OF CORE CITY SERVICES AND LAY THE FOUNDATION FOR BOSTON’S GREEN NEW DEAL

MAYOR WU UNVEILS FIRST CITY BUDGET AND $350 MILLION FEDERAL SPENDING PLAN, TO DELIVER ON THE DETAILS OF CORE CITY SERVICES AND LAY THE FOUNDATION FOR BOSTON’S GREEN NEW DEAL  The budget, in partnership with federal ARPA funds, reflects the clear call for transformative action to support affordable housing, landmark investments in mental health, early education and childcare, arts, climate resiliency, and initiatives to close Boston’s racial wealth gap 波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu)感謝即將離任的波士頓市財務長Justin Sterritt (圖中最高者)，特地送給他一塊路牌。(周菊子攝)

BOSTON - Wednesday, April 13, 2022 - Mayor Michelle Wu today proposed her administration’s first budget, with coordinated resources to set a foundation for the future, connect Boston’s communities, and deliver on the details of City services across all neighborhoods. The recommended Fiscal Year 2023 Operating Budget is $3.99 billion, representing new growth of $216 million or 5.7% over Fiscal Year 2022, and the Fiscal Years 2023-2027 Capital Plan totals $3.6 billion of neighborhood infrastructure investments. Mayor Wu also unveiled her plan to connect $350 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to accelerate a Green New Deal for Boston through major investments to leverage the operating and capital budgets, focusing on affordable housing, mental health, climate resiliency, early education and childcare, arts, and economic opportunity to bridge Boston’s racial wealth gap. “In this moment of urgency and opportunity for Boston, our recommended budget ties together our shared resources to set a foundation for the future, connect our communities, and deliver on the details of City services across our neighborhoods,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “As we emerge from the pandemic, this budget charts a course towards our brightest future for our children, for our communities, for Boston. I’m so excited to be building that future together.”  Mayor Wu’s first budget proposal comes in the first year of a new balance of budgetary power with the City Council. For the first time, Mayor Wu and the Office of Budget Management (OBM) hosted a series of listening sessions in partnership with the Boston City Council to engage residents on the budget process and solicit public feedback, ahead of the Mayor submitting each to the City Council. Through these listening sessions and a citywide survey in 12 languages, the City directly engaged with over a thousand residents over the last three months to guide budget drafting. The budget proposal reflects the clear call from residents for transformative action to support Boston’s people, neighborhoods, and City services. The Recommended FY23 Operating Budget comes a month after Boston received AAA bond ratings from both rating agencies for the eighth year in a row. These ratings are a recognition of the City’s strong fiscal management before and during the pandemic, despite its significant impact on the City. The ratings will allow the City to secure the most favorable rates for infrastructure investments to support equity, affordability, and resiliency in every neighborhood.  “Mayor Wu’s FY23 Budget submission centers residents' voices in its investments while maintaining strong fiscal responsibility that has earned Boston high marks for financial management,” said Justin Sterritt, Chief Financial Officer for the City of Boston. “The strategic use of the Operating Budget, Capital Plan and Federal ARPA funding together will unlock transformational investments that will have deep impacts for communities in Boston.'' The budget, through the multiple funding sources, proposes targeted impact in key areas including:  ·       An unprecedented commitment of $380 million in housing affordability through the Operating budget, the Capital budget, and federal recovery funds to build and acquire new affordable units, invest in affordable homeownership, and fund housing stability services and an expanded voucher program. ·       A greener City vehicle fleet, improvements for mobility and active transportation, the first citywide composting program, new leadership for food justice and urban agriculture, and investments in Boston’s tree canopy and open space that will collectively accelerate Boston’s Green New Deal. ·       A new Center for Behavioral Health at the Boston Public Health Commission to elevate mental health as a Citywide priority, a coordinated crisis response program, specialized supports for older adults, and pathways for greater representation of Boston residents and people of color in public safety jobs.  ·       Accelerating an equitable economic recovery by more than doubling investments in Main Streets districts to support our small businesses; creating an innovative Legacy Business Fund; funding the new Office of Contract Services that will help tie city contracting to wealth-building opportunities for BIPOC- and women-owned local businesses; expanding workforce development for immigrant professionals, young people, and city residents; and investing in neighborhood placemaking, arts, and culture.  ·       A major expansion of the City’s language access capacity, investments in immigration legal services, wraparound supports for returning citizens, and resources to grow the City’s new Office of Black Male Advancement and Office of LGBTQ+ Advancement to amplify the voices of all Boston residents. ·        Empowering youth and families, with a significant commitment to the Boston Public Schools through a $40 million increase for BPS in the Operating Budget paired with over $100 million in federal ESSER funding to support students and school communities, strengthen academics, and improve facilities and operations; a new Office of Early Childhood; and funding for 6,000 youth summer jobs and 1,000 full-year jobs. ·   The budget works in concert with $350 million in federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to accelerate a Green New Deal for Boston. Mayor Wu’s proposal for ARPA funds builds on the $95 million in federal funding for emergency relief for residents, financial support for small businesses, and the two-year fare-free bus pilot. The proposal includes:  ·       $206 million for housing stability, affordable homeownership and financial assistance to first-generation homebuyers, strategic acquisitions to combat displacement, and deeply-affordable housing creation on City-owned land; a nation-leading pilot to advance energy efficiency in triple deckers and other multi-family homes while maintaining affordability; and upgrades to public housing units across five sites for air quality, energy efficiency, and health; ·       $34 million for economic opportunity and inclusion, to grow BIPOC-owned businesses, further invest in Main Street business districts, expand tuition-free community college and workforce training programs, and create a commercial rental rebate program to support small business recovery and build wealth in Boston neighborhoods; ·       $31.5 million for climate-focused investments, including expanding the Green Youth Jobs program, creating walking and biking infrastructure, growing and preserving our urban tree canopy, strengthening our local food systems, and supporting electrification of the City vehicle and school bus fleet;  ·       $20 million for transformative arts and culture investments that will facilitate placemaking and strengthen both downtown and our neighborhood communities; ·       $20 million to ensure an equitable response to the ongoing pandemic by supporting critical COVID-19 vaccination efforts, ongoing testing, community engagement, and continued collaboration with community-based organizations and community health centers; ·       $18 million to tackle behavioral health and substance use disorder challenges; ·       $15 million for investments in Boston’s early education and childcare system, including growing the early educator workforce and streamlining access and enrollment for Boston families; and ·       $5 million for evaluation and equitable administration, to support language access, establish an equity framework, and ensure strong compliance with federal guidelines. The proposals for the spending of federal funds and revenue replacement was formally filed with the City Council on Monday with the annual submission of the operating budget and capital plan.  For more information about the proposed budget visit http://budget.boston.gov/. For more information about the ARPA funds visit http://boston.gov/recove

麻州政府撥發800萬元綠色社區補助

 Baker-Polito Administration Awards Over $8 Million in Green Communities Grants 

Governor Baker joined EEA Secretary Theoharides, DOER Commissioner Woodcock, and state and local officials in the City of Lawrence to announce the awarding of over $8 million in Green Communities Competitive Grant Funding.

 

Lawrence – During an event today in the City of Lawrence, Governor Charlie Baker, Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Kathleen Theoharides, and Department of Energy Resources (DOER) Commissioner Patrick Woodcock announced the awarding of $8,291,629 in Green Communities Competitive Grants to 64 municipalities across the Commonwealth to fund clean energy projects. With today’s announcement, DOER has awarded over $153 million to Green Communities in Designation Grants and Competitive Grants since 2010. Funding for these grants is available through proceeds from carbon allowance auctions under the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI).

 

“Ongoing collaboration with public sector leaders at the state and local level significantly contributes to our Administration’s goal of a cleaner, more reliable, and equitable energy future,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “The innovative and cost-effective projects receiving grants will increase energy efficiency and clean energy use in municipal buildings and vehicles across the Commonwealth, significantly helping our state achieve its long-term emissions reduction requirements.”

 

“Massachusetts has created a nation-leading clean energy sector with forward-thinking policies and strong partnerships at both the state and local level,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “The Green Communities team and our many municipal partners across the state have played and will continue to play key roles as we work toward building a clean energy future for Massachusetts that is affordable, equitable, and reliable.”

 

Under the Green Communities Act, cities and towns must meet five criteria to be designated a Green Community and receive funding. The grants provide financial support for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects that further the designated communities’ clean energy goals. Two-hundred eighty Massachusetts cities and towns have currently earned the Green Communities designation which accounts for 87 percent of the Commonwealth’s population. These competitive grants are awarded to existing Green Communities that have successfully invested their initial designation grants and previous competitive grant awards. Grants are capped at $200,000 per municipalities.

 

“These competitive grants will enable municipalities across the state to implement innovative and cost-effective renewable energy and energy efficiency projects that will reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions and lower municipal energy costs,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Kathleen Theoharides. “Meeting our ambitious long-term climate goals will require the continued deployment of clean energy, but achieving those goals will not be possible without collaboration and partnerships at all levels of government, and Massachusetts has been a leader at that through our Green Communities program.”

 

“Towns and cities across the Commonwealth are committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions through the development and implementation of practical and innovative policies,” said Department of Energy Resources Commissioner Patrick Woodcock. “This Green Communities funding will enable municipalities to implement those policies helping the Commonwealth achieve its long-term clean energy and climate goals.”

 

The grants announced today fund a range of projects from ventilation system upgrades to the installation of insulation and energy management systems at municipal buildings and facilities. Projects also include the installations of air-source heat pumps, hybrid police cruisers, and electric vehicle charging stations.

 

The following municipalities received grant awards:

 

Adams	$161,373	Harwich	$160,952	Revere	$192,589
Ashburnham	$20,000	Hingham	$185,475	Saugus	$118,844
Ashby	$10,413	Hopkinton	$91,189	Sharon	$128,868
Athol	$111,514	Ipswich	$200,000	Shrewsbury	$146,604
Attleboro	$186,629	Lawrence	$199,996	Somerville	$84,802
Bernardston	$13,805	Longmeadow	$60,819	Stockbridge	$62,569
Billerica	$181,037	Marion	$102,000	Stoughton	$199,426
Blackstone	$199,421	Marlborough	$118,940	Tyngsborough	$91,033
Brookline	$22,500	Medfield	$179,884	Uxbridge	$177,827
Buckland	$5,000	Medford	$100,000	Waltham	$185,447
Chelmsford	$17,782	Medway	$99,094	Warwick	$136,103
Cohasset	$188,600	Middleborough	$98,527	Wellesley	$200,000
Concord	$100,000	Nantucket	$160,988	West Boylston	$99,046
Douglas	$104,947	Natick	$500,000	West Newbury	$5,000
Dudley	$200,000	Norfolk	$145,701	West Springfield	$37,399
Easthampton	$15,000	North Adams	$189,915	Westborough	$200,000
Franklin	$150,902	North Attleborough	$178,793	Westford	$34,680
Georgetown	$199,999	Norwell	$54,413	Westminster	$178,273
Gloucester	$92,807	Norwood	$182,290	Westport	$200,000
Groton	$99,393	Palmer	$200,000	Weymouth	$100,000
Hanover	$100,000	Plainville	$95,190	Wilbraham	$170,434
				Woburn	$57,397

 

“I’m thrilled to see that communities in MetroWest, including Franklin, Medway, Natick, Hopkinton, are among the recipients in the latest round of Green Community Grants,” stated Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “When it comes to combating the climate crisis, the bold actions we take today will help to better prepare and preserve our great Commonwealth for years to come. With these grants, our communities can join in the fight to lower harmful carbon emissions, go green and help us reach net-zero by 2050.”

 

“Through the critical funding provided by the Green Communities Grants, Massachusetts continues to take proactive measures to ensure we meet our ambitious target of net-zero emissions by 2050,” said State Senator Barry Finegold (D-Andover). “These grants will support the city of Lawrence and other municipalities in their ongoing efforts to reduce energy emissions, improve air quality, and become healthier places to live. I want to thank the Baker-Polito Administration for continuing to fund these programs, which will help build a more climate-resilient Commonwealth.”

 

“I’m incredibly proud of the Commonwealth’s commitment to facilitate local clean energy investments through the Green Communities program,” said Representative Jeffrey N. Roy (D-Franklin), House Chair of the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy. “I also want to congratulate my communities of Franklin and Medway for securing grant awards by entering a competitive solicitation with strong proposals, and for your continued pursuit towards a clean energy future, which will benefit our residents and the state as a whole.”

 

“Climate change and the negative effects of greenhouse gases impact us all, and the measures to address it in the Commonwealth should be equally as universal,” said Representative Marcos A. Devers (D-Lawrence). “I applaud this round of Green Community grant funding, and am proud to say that renewable and energy efficient projects will always have a home in Lawrence.”

 

“The Green Communities Grant program has proven to be an incredible and invaluable tool to support the Commonwealth’s efforts to reduce our carbon footprint,” said State Representative Frank A. Moran (D-Lawrence). “This critical funding will assist Lawrence curtail its energy use and I greatly look forward to seeing how these funds will support clean energy projects and initiatives throughout the city.”

 

“I am proud that Lawrence has earned a grant of nearly $200,000 through the Green Communities Program,” said Representative Christina A. Minicucci (D-North Andover). “Investing these dollars in Lawrence reflects the Commonwealth’s commitment to closing the climate gap in our environmental justice communities, allowing its residents more equitable access to cost-effective, green energy.”

 

Representing total cost savings of over $1.3 million annually and leveraging utility incentives of over $1.6 million, once completed, these grant-supported projects are estimated to yield energy savings of over 43,000 MMBTus, which translates to the amount of energy consumed by 339 Massachusetts households. In greenhouse gas emissions terms, the projects are estimated to reduce emissions by 3,316 metric tons – roughly equal to taking nearly 700 cars off the road. For additional information on awarded projects and funding amounts, please visit DOER’s Green Communities Division webpage.