Status: Enacted

The operating budget, as supporters highlighted Wednesday, puts $18 million in additional funding into affordable housing initiatives — a 40 percent increase — as well as $14 million more into public health programs, and other notable investments into food access, language access, and trauma response programs, among others.

In responding to calls to reallocate money set aside for the police budget, Walsh’s plan also cut $12 million, or approximately 20 percent, of the department’s overtime budget. The money will now be funneled into trauma and counseling services, mental health services, programs for minority and women-owned businesses, housing support, and $3 million for strategies being undertaken by the Public Health Commission in addressing racism as a public health crisis, among other efforts.

The FY21 budget reflects a 4.4% growth from last year, and of that growth, 7% will go to city services including the Police. The Law Department’s budget will increase by 1.9%, reflecting a staffing increase for the Fire Legal Advisor unit and additional appointments to the Community Ombudsman Panel that reviews appeals made with the Boston Police over internal investigation cases. The Public Safety Cabinet, which includes the Police Department, is increasing by 0.5%. The budget also supports wage increases to the FY21 Police recruit classes and an investment in the Forensic Unit. The Police Department will increase the sworn police by 25 officers with the addition of a second recruit class in FY21. The Crime Lab will receive additional equipment, supplies, and staff. The Community Engagement Bureau will expand its efforts in coordination with HHS’s targeted violence prevention investment. The police department will also continue to reduce overtime hours. The budget also adds another police cadet class in Spring 2021, composed of 20 “diverse young people.”

The Fiscal 2021 recommended budget totals $3.87 billion, including $3.0 billion for operating expenses and
$823.2 million for capital investments. The General Fund budget totals $1.93 billion, a 1.8% decrease from the
Fiscal 2020 Adopted Budget. The Fiscal 2021 recommendation is organized around my five key priorities: Chil‐
dren and Families, Public Safety, Clean and Healthy Communities, Equitable Neighborhood Development, and
Innovative Government.

Regulates no-knock search warrants (No-knock warrants may only be sought in cases involving imminent threat of harm or death to law enforcement and/or to civilians, which shall be limited to the following offenses: murder, hostage taking, kidnapping, terrorism, human trafficking and sexual trafficking. ) Requires warrants for no-knock searches (A completed Warrant Application Form shall accompany every request for a no-knock search warrant.) requires body cameras during a no-knock search warrants,regulates the amount of police offers that may be present (“reaosnably necessary”)

require that Altanta’s “use of force” be amended to include alternatives proven to reduce police violence against citizens “That alternatives to use of force which studies have shown to reduce police violence
against citizens include following 1) Banning chokeholds and strangleholds,2) Requiring deescalation,3) Requiring warning before shooting,4) Exhausting all alternatives before shooting,5)
Duty to intervene,6) Banning shooting at moving vehicles,7) Requiring use of force continuum,and 8)
Requiring comprehensive reporting, are incorporated into APD’s SOP 3010- Use of Force”

Chapter 9.85 added to Article 9: The chapter’s intent is to prohibit the City’s acquisition and/or use of Face Recognition Technology and Predictive Policing Technology, based on the City’s Council’s finding that the technology meets scientifically validated and peer reviewed research, protects and safe guards the civil rights and liberties of all people, and will not perpetuate bias.

Now, with Narkewicz’s newly introduced draft, the police department may see a decrease in its FY 2021 budget of $19,066 or -0.28% from FY 2020, according to a letter Narkewicz wrote to City Council President Gina-Louise Sciarra.

City councilors unanimously voted by the end of the meeting Wednesday night to adopt the mayor’s budget proposal. A second vote will be held June 18 to finalize the FY 2021 budget. Comments from residents will be heard at that hearing as well.