FY2026 Budget Unveiled In Newton

NEWTON, MA — Mayor Ruthanne Fuller presented the city’s capital budget for fiscal year 2026 during the city council’s latest meeting.

The budget totals $547.6 million, marking a 4.2% increase from FY25’s budget of $525.4 million. With the addition of $70.9 million in Sewer Enterprise Funds and $5.1 million in Community Preservation Act funds, the total increases to $623 million.

$292.6 million of the total budget is toward the public school district’s operation, which marks a 3.65% increase. One other school-related category that got a large increase was that of salaries and benefits for school nurses and crossing guards. The $4.1 million allocation marks a more than 16% increase from the previous year. However, this increase falls under the city’s department expenditures, which saw an increase of 3.4% this year bringing the total to $159.1 million.

According to Fuller, the school district makes up for 65% of Newton’s yearly budget. Because it is not allowed under state law to run at a deficit, an increase in funding for schools requires a decrease in funding for other aspects of the city’s infrastructure. To combat this dilemma, Fuller suggested the city copy the town of Arlington’s method in which it passes an “acceptable” operating tax override every four to five years during inflationary periods.

“Cold economic headwinds are blowing in ̶ for the City, our school district, our residents and our businesses. We face enormous economic uncertainty, and on some days, even financial chaos,” Fuller said during the city council meeting on Tuesday, April 22. “The Chair of the Federal Reserve is increasingly concerned about higher inflation, increasing unemployment, volatility in the stock and bond markets, higher borrowing costs, a recession, and even stagflation.”