Last updated: 4/9/25

FY2026 City Council Legislative Budget Review

We'll be updating this page with information regarding the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget review process.

Page Sections

About the Process

Creation and Approval of the Municipal Budget

The Boston City Charter lays out the responsibilities and timeline for creation and approval of the City budget. The Mayor is in charge of creating the annual City operating budget, and submitting it to the City Council no later than the second Wednesday in April of each year. The City Council is responsible for reviewing this budget proposal, and voting on it no later than the second Wednesday in June. The Mayor also submits to the Council dockets related to spending and borrowing money and acquiring land to support the City's Capital Plan.

The City’s fiscal year runs from July 1 – June 30. We are currently in FY25. The upcoming fiscal year will be FY26.

FY26 City Council Review Process

The City Council begins planning and advocating for the budget in January. After the Mayor submits her budget proposal in April, the Council reviews the Mayor’s budget proposal from the middle of April until June. This process is run by the Chair of the Committee on Ways and Means, Councilor Brian J. Worrell. This year, the process will involve approximately 35 public hearings, during which time the Council will hear from the departments that comprise the greatest percentage of the operating budget, as well as a few smaller departments. These hearings will also cover revolving funds and other budget-related appropriations. The Council will also have working sessions to discuss Councilors' budget priorities and potential amendments.

Council hearings will be held in the Iannella Chamber, on the fifth floor of Boston City Hall. The public is encouraged to watch all the hearings in person or via livestream or broadcast on Xfinity Channel 8, RCN Channel 82, and Fios 964.

Public testimony is welcomed and encouraged at all departmental hearings, as well as at dedicated public testimony hearings. See below for the hearing calendar and ways to testify!

Upcoming Hearings

More Upcoming FY26 Budget hearings

Full Schedule

Schedule

January - March

Topic	Public Notice

Topic	Working Session: BPS RFI

Public Notice	Monday, February 3, at 10 a.m. (Piemonte Room)

Topic	Working Session: Departmental RFI

Public Notice	Monday, February 10, at 2 p.m. (Piemonte Room)

Topic	Public Testimony

Public Notice	Tuesday, February 18, at 6 p.m. (Iannella Chamber)

Topic	Working Session: BPS Budget Priorities

Public Notice	Monday, February 24, at 10 a.m. (Curley Room)

Topic	FY26 Revenue + FY25 Revenue to Date

Public Notice	Thursday, February 27, at 10 a.m. (Iannella Chamber)

Topic	Working Session: BPS Budget Priorities (with BPS)

Public Notice	Monday, March 3, at 2 p.m. (Piemonte Room)

Topic	Working Session: Departmental Budget Priorities

Public Notice	Friday, March 7, at 10 a.m. (Piemonte Room)

Topic	Working Session: Departmental Budget Priorities #2

Public Notice	Monday, March 17, at 2 p.m. (Virtual)

Topic	Public Testimony

Public Notice	Monday, March 24, at 6 p.m. (Lilla G. Frederick Pilot Middle School)

Topic	Working Session: Budget Data

Public Notice	Wednesday, March 26, at 2 p.m. (Piemonte Room)

April

Topic	Public Notice

Topic	Boston Public Schools (BPS) Inclusion Multilingual Learners Special Education Services Curriculum (CTE, Literacy, Math) Post-Secondary Outcomes

Public Notice	Monday, April 14, at 10 a.m. (Iannella Chamber)

Topic	Boston Public Schools (BPS) Arts and Music Health and Wellness School Meals Athletics Wrap-around Programs

Public Notice	Monday, April 14, at 2 p.m. (Iannella Chamber)

Topic	Boston Public Schools (BPS) Mergers/Closures Facilities HUB Schools Transportation New Arrivals Unhoused Students BPS Facilities Revolving Fund BPS Transportation Revolving Fund

Public Notice	Tuesday, April 15, at 10 a.m. (Iannella Chamber)

Topic	Boston Public Schools (BPS) Partnerships External Funds Central Office Contracts / Staffing BPS Technology Revolving Fund

Public Notice	Tuesday, April 15, at 2 p.m. (Iannella Chamber)

Topic	Operating Overview

Public Notice	Thursday, April 17, at 10 a.m. (Iannella Chamber)

Topic	Capital Overview

Public Notice	Thursday, April 17, at 2 p.m. (Iannella Chamber)

Topic	Public Testimony

Public Notice	Tuesday, April 22, at 6 p.m. (Virtual)

Topic	Office of Equity Black Male Advancement Fair Housing and Equity Women’s Advancement

Public Notice	Monday, April 28, at 10 a.m. (Iannella Chamber)

Topic	Immigrant Advancement Language and Communications Access (LCA) Commission for Persons with Disabilities Human Rights Commission LGBTQIA2S+ Advancement

Public Notice	Monday, April 28, at 2 p.m. (Virtual)

Topic	Economic Opportunity and Inclusion (OEOI) Supplier Diversity

Public Notice	Tuesday, April 29, at 10 a.m. (Iannella Chamber)

Topic	Consumer Affairs and Licensing Tourism, Sports and Entertainment Tourism Revolving Fund

Public Notice	Tuesday, April 29, at 2 p.m. (Iannella Chamber)

May

Topic	Public Notice

Topic	Department of Innovation & Technology (DOIT) PEG Access Fund

Public Notice	Thursday, May 1, at 10 a.m. (Iannella Chamber)

Topic	Environment Department Office of Food Justice Conservation Commission Revolving Fund Distributed Energy Revolving Fund

Public Notice	Thursday, May 1, at 2 p.m. (Iannella Chamber)

Topic	Working Session

Public Notice	Friday, May 2, at 10 a.m. (Piemonte Room)

Topic	Inspectional Services Department (ISD) Property Management Public Facilities Department (PFD)

Public Notice	Monday, May 5, at 10 a.m. (Iannella Chamber)

Topic	Office of Police Accountability and Transparency (OPAT)

Public Notice	Monday, May 5, at 2 p.m. (Iannella Chamber)

Topic	Boston Centers for Youth and Families (BCYF) Office of Human Services Office of Early Childhood BCYF Revolving Fund

Public Notice	Tuesday, May 6, at 10 a.m. (Iannella Chamber)

Topic	Boston Public Library (BPL) Arts & Culture Revolving Fund

Public Notice	Tuesday, May 6, at 2 p.m. (Iannella Chamber)

Topic	Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) BPHC Overview Infectious Disease Child Adolescent and Family Health Violence Prevention Behavioral Health and Wellness

Public Notice	Thursday, May 8, at 10 a.m (Iannella Chamber)

Topic	Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Recovery Services Homeless Services

Public Notice	Thursday, May 8, at 2 p.m. (Iannella Chamber)

Topic	Planning Department

Public Notice	Monday, May 12, at 10 a.m. (Iannella Chamber)

Topic	Labor Compliance and Worker Protections Law Department Third Party Property Damage Revolving Fund

Public Notice	Monday, May 12, at 2 p.m. (Iannella Chamber)

Topic	Boston Fire Department (BFD)

Public Notice	Tuesday, May 13, at 10 a.m. (Iannella Chamber)

Topic	People Operations Election Department

Public Notice	Tuesday, May 13, at 2 p.m. (Iannella Chamber)

Topic	Boston Police Department (BPD) Mental Health and Substance Abuse Response Community Policing Firearms Homicides Crime Lab Canine Revolving Fund Fitness Center Revolving Fund

Public Notice	Thursday, May 15, at 10 a.m. (Iannella Chamber)

Topic	Boston Police Department (BPD) Overtime Detail System Officer Mental Health Diversity and Recruiting

Public Notice	Thursday, May 15, at 2 p.m. (Iannella Chamber)

Topic	Working Session

Public Notice	Friday, May 16, at 10 a.m. (Piemonte Room)

Topic	Treasury Department Collecting Division Participatory Budget (PB)

Public Notice	Monday, May 19, at 2 p.m. (Iannella Chamber)

Topic	Mayor’s Office of Housing (MOH)

Public Notice	Monday, May 19, at 6 p.m. (Iannella Chamber)

Topic	Parks and Recreation Parkman Fund

Public Notice	Tuesday, May 20, at 10 a.m. (Iannella Chamber)

Topic	Boston Transportation Department (BTD) Public Works Department (PWD)

Public Notice	Tuesday, May 20, at 2 p.m. (Iannella Chamber)

Topic	Age Strong Veteran Services

Public Notice	Thursday, May 22, at 10 a.m. (Iannella Chamber or Offsite Location TBD)

Topic	Office of Human Services Youth Engagement and Advancement Office of Workforce Development Youth Employment and Opportunity

Public Notice	Thursday, May 22, at 6 p.m. (Iannella Chamber)

Topic	Office of Neighborhood Services (ONS) 311 Office of Civic Organizing SPARK Boston

Public Notice	Tuesday, May 27, at 10 a.m. (Iannella Chamber)

Topic	Office of Human Services Office of Returning Citizens

Public Notice	Tuesday, May 27, at 2 p.m. (Iannella Chamber)

Topic	Capital Overview

Public Notice	Wednesday, May 28, at 10 a.m. (Iannella Chamber)

Topic	Public Testimony

Public Notice	Wednesday, May 28, at 6 p.m. (Iannella Chamber)

Topic	Working Session

Public Notice	Thursday, May 29, at 10 a.m. (Piemonte Room)

Topic	Working Session

Public Notice	Friday, May 30, at 10 a.m. (Piemonte Room)

June

Topic	Public Notice

Topic	Working Session

Public Notice	Monday, June 2, at 10 a.m. (Piemonte Room)

Topic	Working Session

Public Notice	Tuesday, June 3, at 10 a.m. (Piemonte Room)