Fiscal Year 2019 Budget

Beginning July 1, 2018 and ending June 30, 2019

Last updated: 7/1/18

Cabinets

Departmental appropriations can be viewed by cabinet, to better reflect the overall policy priorities and trends by service area. In FY19 key investments and changes are summarized by cabinet and are reflected on each cabinet page.

The FY19 Recommended Budget continues and expands upon a number of savings initiatives launched under Mayor Walsh’s Administration such as health care cost containment reforms, reducing overtime, inactivating vacant positions, and reducing energy consumption. It is only through continued tightening within City departments that the City will be able to afford new and expanded investments after reserving for costs associated with collective bargaining, being assessed for its increasing charter school costs, funding its pension obligations, and paying its debt service.
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Cabinet Appropriations

The combined appropriations for City Departments, the Public Health Commission (PHC) and the School Department (BPS), and non-departmental appropriations as shown in the FY19 Budget Summary have increased by 3.6% from the current FY18 appropriations.

Boston Public Schools with a $1.112 billion appropriation is increasing by $47.8 million over the FY18 adopted budget or $18.9 million (1.7%) over the current FY18 appropriation, which includes a $31 million supplemental for the Boston Teachers Union contract expiring in early FY19. Funding for the next contract is included in the FY19 collective bargaining reserve. Boston’s total investment in education, including BPS and the City’s Charter School Assessment, is growing by $37.0 million (2.9%) over the current FY18 appropriation.

City Services such as Police, Fire, Public Works, Housing and Public Health are projected to increase by a total of $42.8 million (3.2%). Public safety costs are rising by 3.0% in FY19. The appropriation for the Public Health Commission is growing by 6.8% with a significant increase in EMS services and full funding for a permanent engagement center in response to substance issues. The majority of departments had employees who reached agreement on collective bargaining contracts, so department growth reflects those wage and cost of living increases, while outstanding contracts are reserved centrally. Average department growth is projected to be 3.7% in FY19. Funding for unsettled City and BPS collective bargaining contracts are centralized in a $41 million collective bargaining reserve.

The FY19 Recommended Budget continues and expands upon a number of savings initiatives launched under Mayor Walsh’s Administration such as health care cost containment reforms, reducing overtime, inactivating vacant positions, and reducing energy consumption. It is only through continued tightening within City departments that the City will be able to afford new and expanded investments after reserving for costs associated with collective bargaining, being assessed for its increasing charter school costs, funding its pension obligations, and paying its debt service.

Appropriations by Cabinet

Back to Operating Budget

Cabinet FY16 Actual FY17 Actual FY18 Budget FY19 Budget
Administration and Finance 240,714,716 247,735,185 267,277,582 273,281,373
Arts and Culture 36,137,102 36,021,635 37,396,319 38,335,507
Civic Engagement 2,524,900 2,679,794 3,287,613 3,408,216
Economic Development 3,669,738 4,968,088 5,072,549 5,530,979
Education 1,016,278,855 1,031,628,494 1,093,310,750 1,112,248,805
Environment, Energy, and Open Space 43,778,467 43,006,669 44,687,042 45,939,384
Health and Human Services 114,682,426 116,037,147 123,613,966 128,494,525
Housing and Neighborhood Development 11,544,054 16,926,212 13,492,642 14,220,701
Information and Technology 32,046,766 32,339,128 29,933,344 30,444,344
Mayor's Office 12,973,396 13,243,425 15,738,196 17,396,812
Non-Mayoral Departments 6,610,434 6,508,839 6,866,154 7,252,204
Operations 25,171,890 26,986,150 24,234,614 25,676,766
Public Safety 566,456,632 584,320,813 618,645,257 637,357,037
Streets 136,430,805 142,947,436 147,214,950 152,924,942