Boston Budget Hearings Rolling Along

Boston's budget hearings for Mayor Thomas Menino's last proposed budget—a $2.6 billion operating budget, are rolling along.

"We’re currently in hearings, and 18 of 26 departmental hearings have already occurred," said Emilee Ellison, spokesperson for the mayor, adding that no hearings were scheduled last week due to the Memorial Day holiday.

"Hearings are scheduled to end the second week of June," she said. "And we’re moving toward a vote as usual."

A new updated budget will be submitted by the Menino administration in about two weeks, and the Boston City Council will vote on the last Wednesday in June on the resubmitted budget.

Part of the proposed budget includes providing 10,000 more mobile computing devices for students and more learning courses for residents at community centers, and the city also plans to launch an iPad lending program for residents. In addition, the City Hall To Go truck will transition from a pilot to a monthly set schedule that allows it to visit every neighborhood at least once a month.

The proposed $2.6 billion budget represents a 5.6 percent growth over last year’s budget, an increase of $138.7 million.  

Boston Public Schools' proposed budget is $934 million, which would be a $60.8 million increase from last year. That inclues a new $30 million Quality Improvement Fund to upgrade school facilities, technology and teacher quality programs.

“There are numerous smaller projects and improvements underway that are not as visible but just as necessary to making our neighborhoods better places to live. This budget—like so many before it—is a testament to Mayor Menino’s strong stewardship of Boston’s finances and to the hard work of his stellar budget team,” said District 6 City Councilor Matt O’Malley, a member of the City Council’s Ways and Means Committee, which holds the budget hearings. “I am looking forward to continuing to work with the administration as we complete these projects while ensuring a top-notch level of city services.”