Menino Delivers Final Budget Proposal

Boston Mayor Thomas Menino presented his last fiscal year budget—of $2.6 billion—with laughs, joking about the mayoral race with candidates and potential candidates in the room.

Before getting to the details, a mock movie was played to a full room that included the Boston City Council, department heads, Superintendent Carol Johnson, as well as Police Commissioner Ed Davis. Laughs filled the Eagle Room at City Hall, for the comedic line that kept going, "From the producer of the Fiscal Year 1994 Budget, and the Fiscal Year 1995 Budget..." all the way up to Fiscal Year 2014 - "... coming July 1."

Menino, sat in a chair the whole time, referred to the proposed FY '14 budget as "prudent" and said it increased 5.6 percent from fiscal year 2013. The majority of proposed revenue include 66 percent from property taxes, with state aid at 16 percent, which Menino remarked was 28 percent recently. The proposed budget included a projected decrease of $16.1 million in state aid. 

Health insurance costs total 11 percent of the proposed fiscal year 2014 budget, for insurance to city employees and their families, or $287 million of the total budget.

John McDonough, chief financial officer of Boston Public Schools, said the school system has a proposed $934.6 million budget, rising 7 percent or $60.8 million.

During the meeting several city councilors/mayoral candidates made their way into the room. A seat that remained open next to Menino was predicted to go to District 4 Councilor Charles Yancey, who some said would come late, and did, go to Yancey.

Yancey, the longest sitting council member, at one point joked with Menino, asking, "Is that an endorsement?"

To which Menino replied, "Endorse not."

Menino also jested with announced Felix Arroyo, Rob Consalvo, as well as rumored candidates Stephen Murphy and Michael Ross, about their mayoral intentions.

When Ross left the end of the meeting early, Menino asked, "You running to a press conference?"

Not to be lost in the normally dry atmosphere of budget proposals was the proposed five-year $1.8 billion capital plan including 341 projects.

The capital plan includes a new park for children with physical disabilities in the Charlestown Navy Yard. Also recreational updates to the West Roxbury High School, Billings Playground and Draper Pool in West Roxbury, Flaherty Pool in Roslindale, and continued development of Dudley Square.

Construction will begin on the Copley Public Library this year on the Johnson Building. This project will open the main floor to Boylston Street, improve and expand the Children’s Room and upgrade a lecture hall. 

"No budget's perfect. [...]" Menino said. "You only have so much money. If a budget works, a city works. [...] One-time revenues need to be made up next year."

Before ending, Menino complimented City Councilor Mark Ciommo, chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, as well as the entire Boston City Council, for being prudent, as well as the "budget folks, who don't get their credit."