City Council - Ways & Means Committee Hearing on Dockets #0733-0740, FY27 Budget: Public Testimony

• Governing Body: City Council - Ways & Means Committee
• Meeting Type: Public Testimony Hearing
• Date: April 28, 2026
• Location: City Council Chamber / Virtual via Zoom
• Dockets Discussed: #0733-0740 (FY27 Budget Overview)
• Attendees:
  • Councilor Ben Weber (Chair)
  • Councilor Liz Breadon (Council President)
  • Councilor Edward Flynn
  • Councilor Miniard Culpepper
  • Councilor Brian Worrell

The committee viewed a video presentation from seniors at the Parkway Senior Center in West Roxbury.

• Key Issue: The state currently funds two days of operation at the Elks Lodge, but the third day is not funded in the proposed budget.
• Action Requested: Residents requested the city provide funding for Wednesday operations to support mental and physical health for the growing senior population.

Hannah Houven, a teacher at UP Academy Holland, testified regarding the Access to Counsel program.

• Key Points: The program provides free legal services to BPS families facing eviction. In early 2026, 94 families were served, with over one-third of evictions delayed or prevented.
• Financial Detail: The program was funded at $450,000 in the previous year but is slated for elimination in the FY27 budget.
• Direct Quote: "Access to Counsel, which provides free legal service for BPS families facing eviction, is slated to be eliminated from this year's budget."

Multiple speakers, including Alex DeFronzo and Omar Sahrour from Pierce Park Sailing Center, advocated for the restoration of youth jobs.

• Key Issue: The proposed budget includes a $6 million cut to the Office of Youth Employment and Opportunities (YEO), effectively eliminating school-year jobs.
• Impact: Speakers noted that school-year jobs are critical for training summer leaders and providing year-round stability for low-income youth.
• Action Requested: Restore the YEO budget to FY26 levels to maintain the continuum of youth employment.

A large delegation from the Boston People's Response (BPR) campaign testified in support of a non-police mental health crisis response pilot.

• Financial Request: The campaign is requesting $4 million in the FY27 budget to fully fund the pilot.
• Program Design: The model is intended to be consent-based, non-police, and non-carceral, utilizing trained community professionals rather than law enforcement.
• Context: Speakers cited the fatal police shootings of Stevenson King Jr., Terrence Coleman, and Jacob Graves as evidence of the need for alternative response models.
• Direct Quote (Amy Takanami): "Our campaign is advocating for a non-police, non-carceral, community-based mental health crisis response for the City of Boston."

Representatives from the Boston Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) testified regarding the lack of public restrooms.

• Key Issue: The proposed budget includes a $500,000 cut to Parks Operations and a $320,000 cut to Building Operations, both of which maintain existing facilities.
• Action Requested:
  1. Reverse the proposed funding cuts.
  2. Expand the street furniture program to build new 24/7 accessible restrooms near transit hubs.
  3. Ensure existing facilities (like the Frog Pond in Boston Common) adhere to posted hours.

Gregory Fennell (Independent Socialist Group) and other residents spoke against proposed school staff reductions.

• Key Points: Testimony highlighted the potential closure of schools like Another Course to College and the layoff of approximately 400 teachers.
• Financial Context: Speakers questioned the necessity of cuts given the state's $8.6 billion rainy day fund and the city's own reserves.

Several speakers, including George Lee and Joaquin Atala Gutierrez, criticized the overall priorities of the FY27 budget.

• Police Budget: Speakers noted the police budget exceeds $484 million, including $57.7 million in overtime, while social services are being cut.
• Cuts Identified: Testimony highlighted cuts to immigration legal services, housing vouchers, food programs, and participatory budgeting items.
• Direct Quote (George Lee): "The things that the community voted for in participatory budgeting—food, housing, and immigration—are the things that are being cut."