FY26 Budget Presented To Somerville City Council

SOMERVILLE, MA — Mayor Katjana Ballantyne presented the city’s capital budget for Fiscal Year 2026 to the City Council for the first time during its most recent meeting.

The operating budget totals $380.1 million, which marks approximately a $20 million increase compared to FY25.

The budget features a $112.3 allocation for the public school district, which is a 5.2% increase compared to the previous year according to Ballantyne. $1.5 million in union contract contingency funds and $750,000 in school reserves add an additional 2.4%.

“Together, the increase in total spending allows for continuing investments, set-aside funds, a new teachers union contract, and covering rising costs and inflation,” Ballantyne said to the council.
Outside of the school district, Ballantyne listed a Public Safety For All program manager, inter-department cross training efforts, upgrades to the fire station and its dispatch center, climate resilience initiatives, and a Founder’s Rink recreation facility.

The City Council was given the chance to ask Ballantyne questions regarding her proposal. Ward Two Councilor J.T. Scott took Ballantyne to task over the police department’s “almost 20%” increase in funding.

Ballantyne said that the increase is solely due to contracts reached with the department recently as well as expected increased costs.

“That is going to be a number that sticks in my mind as we review many of these departments that are scraping and finding sacrifices to get by right now,” Scott said.

The council has a budget public hearing slated for Tuesday, June 3 at 6 p.m.