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BOSTON - Friday,
June 18, 2020 - Mayor Kim Janey today resubmitted her Administration's
Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) budget, which builds on her commitment to Boston’s
equitable reopening, recovery and long-term renewal from the COVID-19
pandemic. As a result of a strong local economy and a significant infusion
of federal funding from the American Rescue Plan, the $3.76 Billion FY22
operating budget proposes a year-over-year increase of $152 million, or 4.2
percent over FY21, and the $3.3 Billion Capital Plan represents a $200
million increase, the largest capital plan ever. The resubmission follows
over 36 City Council hearings and working sessions that helped identify
opportunities for further targeted investments and cost-savings.
“During the past
fifteen months, Boston has come together like never before, and we must
take that spirit of collaboration and compassion and translate it into real
investments for the City of Boston and our residents,” said Mayor Janey.
“COVID-19 has brought on unprecedented economic and social change for our
city, and this budget proposal meets the moment and makes targeted
investments to ensure that as we recover from this public health crisis we
are not going back to normal, but going forward better than before. I am
proud of this budget and the enormous work that goes into running our City
government and providing the services Bostonians need and rely on.”
In this budget
resubmission, the City of Boston will make further investment in core city
services and resident needs, while centering an equitable recovery from the
COVID-19 pandemic. After 36 public City Council hearings and robust public
conversation, Mayor Janey’s revised budget offers support for Boston’s
workforce, ensures the City’s neighborhoods are safe and welcoming, and
fosters joy in our communities. All investments place equity at the
forefront. To help recover from the financial and economic impacts of
COVID-19, the city is expected to receive over $500 million in federal
funding from the American Rescue Plan Act for use through the end of 2024.
Of this funding, Mayor Janey has proposed a $50 million emergency relief plan to support an equitable recovery and
reopening for Boston residents, workers and small businesses.
The allocation of
this immediate funding was guided by the City of Boston’s Equitable
Recovery Coordinating Committee (ERCC), which is being formed to ensure the
equitable and efficient coordination of stimulus resources for the short-
and long-term benefit of Boston residents, with an intentional focus on
those who have been hurt most by the pandemic. The ERCC is steered by City
leadership, with additional representation across City departments and
external stakeholders.
“In the midst of
historic transition and COVID-19 recovery, Boston definitely needs a strong
budget for the year ahead," said Councilor Kenzie Bok, the Chair of
the Council's Ways & Means Committee. "We are poised as a City to
make major investments in key recovery needs such as green jobs, affordable
housing, and a robust capital plan. I am very glad that, through the
Council’s budget scrutiny process, we’ve been able to work with the
Administration to make important further adjustments that increase funding
for safer streets and sidewalks, support our low-income retirees, enhance
fire coverage, and expand job opportunities for young adults. The
adjustments we've made will also boost our long-term efforts to preserve
neighborhood history, create new units of public housing, and tackle the
challenge of digital equity. I look forward to ensuring that we start the
fiscal year in a strong position to execute on all these plans; the people
of Boston deserve no less.”
Mayor Janey has made
supporting Boston’s workforce a top priority. Her Administration’s proposed
budget resubmission showcases a commitment to creating opportunities for
all of Boston’s workers and developing supports to prepare our workforce
for the jobs of the future. Mayor Janey’s proposed budget includes:
·
Direct
investments in workers including $1 million in green jobs; $1 million
in job training in the hardest hit industries; and $1 million in job
training for artists
·
Expanded
programs to support child care entrepreneurs, immigrant professionals and
$1 million for emerging community based sectors of mobility and zero waste
and environmental sustainability jobs
·
An
additional $4 million to expand our City-sponsored summer jobs program to
5,000 youth while adding 1,000 year-round youth jobs
·
$1
million to support the creation of affordable mixed-use commercial space
and invest in the long term preservation of affordable housing units
·
$1
million to continue the effort of All Inclusive campaign to support the
hard hit hospitality and tourism industry
As part of her
budget resubmission, Mayor Janey is also recommending the creation of the
City’s first Chief of Workforce Development, $300,000 in jobs and work
opportunities for young adults, a Career Counselor Librarian pilot program
in East Boston, Mattapan and Roxbury, increased investments in Women's
Advancement-Salary Negotiation Trainings and Wage Gap Training for
Employers, and new funding that supports our long-term city workers with an
update to the retirement Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) Base.
Mayor Janey’s FY22
budget proposal is built to support residents with a key focus on equitable
distribution of resources to support residents who have been most impacted
by the COVID-19 pandemic. Mayor Janey’s proposed budget includes:
·
Expanded
Language Access resources for residents to city services
·
Racial
Equity and Leadership Training for all City employees
·
The
City of Boston’s first Environmental Justice Program Coordinator
·
$1.1
million for early and no-excuse mail in voting in municipal elections
·
$1
million for digital resources to help end the digital divide in our
communities
·
Mental
and physical health resources for residents after the COVID-19 pandemic,
including, $350,000 to increase food access and awareness, $250,000 for
post COVID-19 mental health recovery services
·
Expanded
events for Age Strong residents to promote community recovery and
reconnection
·
Support
and staffing for infectious diseases infrastructure in the Boston Public
Health Commission
·
1.5
million to expand on mobility improvements
·
Social
workers and family liaisons in every Boston Public School
As part of her
budget resubmission, Mayor Janey is also recommending $1 million for the
City’s first Office of Participatory Budgeting, investments in a new
Healthy Places Initiative targeted for environmental justice populations,
who often live in hotter neighborhoods with less tree canopy cover, and
$250,000 in additional resources to support equitable procurement and
access for City contracts.
Mayor Janey
recognizes the importance of making sure that all Boston residents are able
to feel safe and welcome in our neighborhoods. This budget helps support
additional affordable housing opportunities and alternative models to
traditional policing. The proposed budget includes:
·
$1.3
million for Boston’s first Office of Police Accountability and Transparency
·
$1.75
million to explore Alternative Policing Models
·
Expanding
the Boston Police Force by 30 officers and 20 new cadets
·
Enhancing
support for officers on sick and injured leave
·
An
additional $2.5 million in housing vouchers, completing the City’s $5 million
commitment
To expand on the
Mayor’s commitment to creating welcome communities, Mayor Janey also
recommended an additional $2.25 million investment to address road safety
issues, add funding to recruit additional firefighters, and preserve the
Immigrant Defense Fund and expand support for the Temporary Protected
Status program.
Mayor Janey created
her Joy Agenda as an investment in Boston’s collective wellbeing as we
recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. This citywide approach creates open and
safe spaces, reimagines policies and practices to promote city services,
creates ways for residents to reconnect with each other, and invests in
arts and culture, small businesses, and youth. Mayor Janey’s proposed
investments for the Joy Agenda include:
·
Making
membership in Boston Centers for Youth & Families free and waives all
past due Boston Public Library fees
·
Funds
for programming at the Strand Theater and citywide public art conservation
and maintenance
·
Additional
resources for the Parks Department to expand summer recreation programs
·
Provides
resources to support expanded outdoor dining
Mayor Janey’s
resubmitted budget proposal includes investments for Joy Agenda mini
grants, investments in exploring municipal broadband so all neighborhoods
can access reliable internet, support for future outdoor dining for
restaurants, and the launch of the Healthy Places Initiatives to mitigate
adverse impacts of excessive heat.
Mayor Janey’s FY22
budget proposal expands upon her forward-looking plan to support Boston's
equitable reopening, recovery and long-term renewal. For more information
about the budget, visit Boston's budget website at budget.boston.gov. | 
