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FY21 Public Safety Priorities

Boston Public Safety services like the Boston Police Department, the Boston Fire Department, and the City's Emergency Medical Services are unparalleled in the country.

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The FY21 budget ensures the City is investing in community building, technology, and increased capacity to meet the public safety needs of a growing city.

Boston Police Department

The FY21 budget continues to invest in technology and increased staff capacity for the Police Department. It contains funding to complete the rollout of the body worn camera program. It also contains funding for two police classes to increase the size of the force by 25 and a class of 20 cadets to start in the spring. This cadet class will expand public safety opportunities to a diverse pipeline of local young people.

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Other FY21 investments in Boston's police force include:

  • A $2M reallocation from overtime for additional mental health resources to support officers responding to quality of life calls;
  • An additional three (on top of the four added in FY20) staff were added to the Forensics Division to meet new requirements for evidence processing;
  • Adding laboratory equipment and supplies to reflect additional Forensics staff; and,
  • $75,000 to expand the capacity of the Community Engagement Bureau's programming, as part of the HHS cabinet's citywide targeted violence prevention strategy.

Boston Fire Department

The health and safety of firefighters continues to be paramount for the City and the FY21 continues invest heavily in the Fire Department, including:

  • Additional funds for industrial cleaning for firehouses, bringing the total annual program to $650,000.
  • Continuing investments in:
    • $475,000 for critical facility repairs;
    • $250,000 for  improvements to living quarters;
    • $250,000 for public facing facilities improvements (e.g., public restrooms);
    • $50,000 in wellness seminars to improve firefighter health; and,
    • the third and final year of a complete replacement of firehouse kitchen stoves.

The Mayor’s Enhanced Apparatus Replacement Plan will replace 6 trucks in FY21 and will have replaced a total of 68% of the fleet over six years. The department will also replace a brush truck which handles tough to reach wooded areas and can aid in flood rescue.

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Emergency Response Services

Emergency Management Services' FY21 budget includes a targeted investment to ensure that essential equipment like AEDs, radios, LifePak15s, and body armor will be put on a regular replacement schedule. This lifesaving equipment protects both our EMTs and constituents needing services. EMS will also invest in new ambulances in FY21 and continue to support a robust level of sworn EMTs.

While the specific needs of a robust emergency medical service are constantly being refined, the city remains committed to providing EMS with necessary resources.

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Learn more about the budget

FY21 Executive Summary
FY21 Operating Budget
FY21 Capital Budget
FY21 Featured Analyses
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