City Council

• Governing Body: Somerville City Council and School Committee (Joint Meeting)
• Meeting Date: April 14, 2026
• Meeting Type: Special Meeting
• Presiding Officer: Councilor Lance Davis

City Council Attendance

• Present: Councilor Ben Ewen-Campen, Councilor J.T. Scott, Councilor Jesse Clingan, Councilor Kristen Strezo, Councilor Naima Sait, Councilor Ben Wheeler, Councilor Emily Hardt, Councilor Matt McLaughlin, Councilor Will Mbah, Councilor Lance Davis.
• Joined Late: Councilor Jon Link (remotely).

School Committee Attendance

• Present: Laura Pitone, Michele Lippens, Elizabeth Eldridge, Andre Green, Emma Stellman, Leiran Biton, Mayor Jake Wilson, President Lance Davis, Emily Ackman.

Finance Director Ed Bean, Chief Assessor Frank Golden, and Budget Director Mike Mastroboni presented a review of the city's financial status pursuant to Section 2-47 of the Code of Ordinances and Section 6-3 of the City Charter.

Key Financial Projections:

• Projected Budget Gap: $4.5 million for FY2027.
• New Growth Decline: Estimated new property tax growth is projected at $5 million, down from $7.8 million in FY2026 and a peak of $17.7 million in FY2024.
• State Aid: Somerville's state aid remains below FY2002 levels in real dollars ($55.8 million in FY2026 vs. $61.8 million in FY2002).
• Health Insurance: Projected increase of $2.8 million (approx. 8% average increase), with the Harvard Pilgrim family plan increasing by 14.7%.
• Reserves: The city has approximately $14.5 million in reserves available for one-time expenses or debt service mitigation.

Chief Assessor Frank Golden provided an update on the commercial sector:

• Life Science Vacancy: There is currently 1.9 million square feet of vacant life science space in the city.
• Transmedics Deal: A TIF agreement at 188 Assembly will eventually occupy 500,000 square feet, though growth will be captured over 10 years starting in year three.
• Building Permits: Budgeted at $5.8 million for FY2027, an increase of $700,000 due to mid-sized developments at 299 Broadway and 108 Prospect.

The administration outlined several tactics to close the $4.5 million deficit:

1. Revenue Enhancement: Evaluating all fees, fines, and permits through a cost-recovery lens.
2. Use of Reserves: Applying stabilization funds toward the $1.8 million increase in debt service.
3. Vacancy Control: Reviewing all open city positions for potential elimination or delayed hiring.
4. Departmental Reorganization: Moving to a "cabinet structure" to streamline management.
5. Operational Cuts: Asking city departments to model 3% and 5% reductions in non-personnel (Ordinary Maintenance) spending.

School Funding and Equity

• Member Andre Green emphasized that 44% of students are low-income and 60% are people of color, arguing that school funding is the city's primary equity tool: "They are nice to haves. They are not need-to-haves. So I'm going to ask this administration and this council to... [invest in schools]."
• Member Michele Lippens questioned why the school's share of the budget decreased slightly from 31.36% to 31.21%.
• Mayor Jake Wilson committed that if revenues exceed projections, any contingency cuts made to the school budget would be the first items restored.

City Management and Staffing

• Councilor J.T. Scott suggested that the city should look at eliminating middle management positions rather than cutting school services, noting the core communications department has grown to 12 people.
• Councilor Kristen Strezo requested a fully itemized school budget book for FY2027 to ensure transparency regarding salary lines and department expenditures.

• Action: The City Council voted to place the Finance Director's communication on file.
• Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned following a roll call vote.
• Vote Count: 11-0 (Councilors Ewen-Campen, Link, Scott, Clingan, Strezo, Sait, Wheeler, Hardt, McLaughlin, Mbah, and Davis voting in the affirmative).