Mayor Janey resubmits forward-looking budget focused on Boston's reopening, recovery, and long-term renewal

Mayor Kim Janey today resubmitted her Administration's Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) budget, which builds on her commitment to Boston’s equitable reopening, recovery and long-term renewal from the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result of a strong local economy and a significant infusion of federal funding from the American Rescue Plan, the $3.76 Billion FY22 operating budget proposes a year-over-year increase of $152 million, or 4.2 percent over FY21, and the $3.3 Billion Capital Plan represents a $200 million increase, the largest capital plan ever. The resubmission follows over 36 City Council hearings and working sessions that helped identify opportunities for further targeted investments and cost-savings. 

“During the past fifteen months, Boston has come together like never before, and we must take that spirit of collaboration and compassion and translate it into real investments for the City of Boston and our residents,” said Mayor Janey. “COVID-19 has brought on unprecedented economic and social change for our city, and this budget proposal meets the moment and makes targeted investments to ensure that as we recover from this public health crisis we are not going back to normal, but going forward better than before. I am proud of this budget and the enormous work that goes into running our City government and providing the services Bostonians need and rely on.”

In this budget resubmission, the City of Boston will make further investment in core city services and resident needs, while centering an equitable recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. After 36 public City Council hearings and robust public conversation, Mayor Janey’s revised budget offers support for Boston’s workforce, ensures the City’s neighborhoods are safe and welcoming, and fosters joy in our communities. All investments place equity at the forefront. To help recover from the financial and economic impacts of COVID-19, the city is expected to receive over $500 million in federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act for use through the end of 2024. Of this funding, Mayor Janey has proposed a $50 million emergency relief plan to support an equitable recovery and reopening for Boston residents, workers and small businesses.

The allocation of this immediate funding was guided by the City of Boston’s Equitable Recovery Coordinating Committee (ERCC), which is being formed to ensure the equitable and efficient coordination of stimulus resources for the short- and long-term benefit of Boston residents, with an intentional focus on those who have been hurt most by the pandemic. The ERCC is steered by City leadership, with additional representation across City departments and external stakeholders. 

“In the midst of historic transition and COVID-19 recovery, Boston definitely needs a strong budget for the year ahead," said Councilor Kenzie Bok, the Chair of the Council's Ways & Means Committee. "We are poised as a City to make major investments in key recovery needs such as green jobs, affordable housing, and a robust capital plan. I am very glad that, through the Council’s budget scrutiny process, we’ve been able to work with the Administration to make important further adjustments that increase funding for safer streets and sidewalks, support our low-income retirees, enhance fire coverage, and expand job opportunities for young adults. The adjustments we've made will also boost our long-term efforts to preserve neighborhood history, create new units of public housing, and tackle the challenge of digital equity. I look forward to ensuring that we start the fiscal year in a strong position to execute on all these plans; the people of Boston deserve no less.”

Mayor Janey has made supporting Boston’s workforce a top priority. Her Administration’s proposed budget resubmission showcases a commitment to creating opportunities for all of Boston’s workers and developing supports to prepare our workforce for the jobs of the future. Mayor Janey’s proposed budget includes: 

• Direct investments in workers including $1 million in green jobs;  $1 million in job training in the hardest hit industries; and $1 million in job training for artists
• Expanded programs to support child care entrepreneurs, immigrant professionals and $1 million for emerging community based sectors of mobility and zero waste and environmental sustainability jobs
• An additional $4 million to expand our City-sponsored summer jobs program to 5,000 youth while adding 1,000 year-round youth jobs
• $1 million to support the creation of affordable mixed-use commercial space and invest in the long term preservation of affordable housing units
• $1 million to continue the effort of All Inclusive campaign to support the hard hit hospitality and tourism industry 

As part of her budget resubmission, Mayor Janey is also recommending the creation of the City’s first Chief of Workforce Development, $300,000 in jobs and work opportunities for young adults, a Career Counselor Librarian pilot program in East Boston, Mattapan and Roxbury, increased investments in Women's Advancement-Salary Negotiation Trainings and Wage Gap Training for Employers, and new funding that supports our long-term city workers with an update to the retirement Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) Base.

Mayor Janey’s FY22 budget proposal is built to support residents with a key focus on equitable distribution of resources to support residents who have been most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Mayor Janey’s proposed budget includes: 

• Expanded Language Access resources for residents to city services
• Racial Equity and Leadership Training for all City employees
• The City of Boston’s first Environmental Justice Program Coordinator 
• $1.1 million for early and no-excuse mail in voting in municipal elections
• $1 million for digital resources to help end the digital divide in our communities
• Mental and physical health resources for residents after the COVID-19 pandemic, including, $350,000 to increase food access and awareness, $250,000 for post COVID-19 mental health recovery services, 
• Expanded events for Age Strong residents to promote community recovery and reconnection
• Support and staffing for infectious diseases infrastructure in the Boston Public Health Commission 
• $1.5 million to expand on mobility improvements
• Social workers and family liaisons in every Boston Public School 

As part of her budget resubmission, Mayor Janey is also recommending $1 million for the City’s first Office of Participatory Budgeting, investments in a new Healthy Places Initiative targeted for environmental justice populations, who often live in hotter neighborhoods with less tree canopy cover, and $250,000 in additional resources to support equitable procurement and access for City contracts. 

Mayor Janey recognizes the importance of making sure that all Boston residents are able to feel safe and welcome in our neighborhoods. This budget helps support additional affordable housing opportunities and alternative models to traditional policing. The proposed budget includes:

• $1.3 million for Boston’s first Office of Police Accountability and Transparency
• $1.75 million to explore Alternative Policing Models
• Expanding the Boston Police Force by 30 officers and 20 new cadets 
• Enhancing support for officers on sick and injured leave 
• An additional $2.5 million in housing vouchers, completing the City’s $5 million commitment

To expand on the Mayor’s commitment to creating welcome communities, Mayor Janey also recommended an additional $2.25 million investment to address road safety issues, add funding to recruit additional firefighters, and preserve the Immigrant Defense Fund and expand support for the Temporary Protected Status program. 

Mayor Janey created her Joy Agenda as an investment in Boston’s collective wellbeing as we recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. This citywide approach creates open and safe spaces, reimagines policies and practices to promote city services, creates ways for residents to reconnect with each other, and invests in arts and culture, small businesses, and youth. Mayor Janey’s proposed investments for the Joy Agenda include:

• Making membership in Boston Centers for Youth & Families free and waives all past due Boston Public Library fees
• Funds for programming at the Strand Theater and citywide public art conservation and maintenance
• Additional resources for the Parks Department to expand summer recreation programs
• Provides resources to support expanded outdoor dining

Mayor Janey’s resubmitted budget proposal includes investments for Joy Agenda mini grants, investments in exploring municipal broadband so all neighborhoods can access reliable internet, support for future outdoor dining for restaurants, and the launch of the Healthy Places Initiatives to mitigate adverse impacts of excessive heat. 

Mayor Janey’s FY22 budget proposal expands upon her forward-looking plan to support Boston's equitable reopening, recovery and long-term renewal. For more information about the budget, visit Boston's budget website at budget.boston.gov.