Topic: budget

The economic decline put extreme pressure on the City’s fiscal position just when the need for City’s social supports became more critical. Recognizing that budget cuts would be necessary to meet the Charter-mandated balanced budget requirement, and with continuing uncertainty around the worsening economic landscape, the Council’s response to the Preliminary Budget was focused and contained our estimation of the components of the baseline budget that are essential and must be preserved while navigating the fiscal pressure.

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.

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.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 8 of Title 36 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to county police, so as to restrict the ability of county governing authorities to reduce funding for county police departments,to amend Chapter 60 of Title 36 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions applicable to municipal corporations, so as to restrict the ability of municipal or consolidated government governing authorities to reduce funding for municipal police departments,to provide for exceptions,to provide for related matters,to repeal conflicting laws,and for other purposes.