Boston City Council Passes Menino Budget, 12-1

Despite public concern about the school choice policy and busing, the passed a $2.4 billion city budget this afternoon with a 12-1 vote.

Boston Mayor Thomas Menino has already signed the budget, which goes into effect on July 1 for the coming fiscal year.

District 4 Councilor Charles Yancey voted against the budget.

The Boston City Council originally rejected Menino's proposed budget back in April. The council commonly rejects the mayor's budget on first vote and then dissects the budget by adding and subtracting funds.

The approved budget added more money for education transportation and special education, which At-Large Councilor John Connolly pushed for in multiple hearings.

"We had 13 hearings focusing on the Boston Public Schools. Thirty-four hours of hearings," he said. "I want to use this year to truly reform school transportation and [the school] assignment [policy]. I don't care if I get elected, as long as I know my child has a good spot in a quality school. Right now, that doesn't happen for every child. I will vote for this school budget because I believe we are moving in the right direction."

District 9 Councilor Mark Ciommo expressed similar sentiments.

"I think it makes the best of the financial resources we have at this time," he said.

But Councilor Yancey said the portions of the budget related to schools and community centers concered him with their size.

"I am not happy with this budget," he said. "Year after year, the department that takes the biggest hits is the school department. Since 2009, 700 positions have been taken away from the BPS. They're asking us to take a disproportionate hit against teachers." 

At-Large Councilor Ayanna Pressley voiced the internal conflict of the council.

"We've all had to learn to do more with less," she said. "There is not one person who cannot think of 20 programs they would like to give money to. This budget is as good as a bad budget can be. At the end of the day, Boston is on a far more sure economic footing than most cities."