Mayor Janey Takes Steps to Democratize Boston's Budgeting Process

Strategic Insights -

Mayor Kim Janey recently took two key steps to democratize Boston's budgeting process, signing off on a ballot question to amend the City of Boston Charter and allocating an additional $1 million to establish the City's first Office of Participatory Budgeting. The proposed charter amendment aims to strike a more equal balance of budgetary powers between the Mayor and the City Council, while the Office of Participatory Budgeting will lead the Administration's efforts to expand opportunities for community involvement in the City's annual budgeting process.

Key Takeaways:

  • Mayor Janey signed off on a ballot question to amend the City of Boston Charter, which will strike a more equal balance of budgetary powers between the Mayor and the City Council, currently scheduled to be placed on Boston's municipal ballot this November.
  • The proposed charter amendment establishes the Office of Participatory Budgeting, which will lead the Administration's efforts around expanding opportunities for community involvement in the City's annual budgeting process.
  • The Office of Participatory Budgeting will be guided by a community-based Participatory Budgeting Committee and tasked with determining resident priorities when it comes to the City's investments.
  • Karen Chen of the Chinese Progressive Association, Dwaign Tyndal of Alternatives for Community and Environment, and Armani White of Roxbury-based activist group ACE commended Mayor Janey for her leadership on charter reform and participatory budgeting.
  • Mayor Janey proposed a forward-looking budget that recommended a $3.75 billion Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) operating budget and $3.2 billion Fiscal Year 2022-2026 (FY22-FY26) Capital Plan, with a focus on providing resources for the city's continued robust public health response to COVID-19, making strategic investments in Boston's neighborhoods and residents, and setting the stage for Boston's equitable reopening, recovery, and renewal.

Statistics:

  • $1 million will be allocated to the Office of Participatory Budgeting in the City's proposed FY '22 Budget.
  • The proposed charter amendment will strike a more equal balance of budgetary powers between the Mayor and the City Council if it passes this November.
  • The Office of Participatory Budgeting will be guided by a community-based Participatory Budgeting Committee, which will have the authority to determine resident priorities when it comes to the City's investments.

Sources:

  • Mayor of Boston
  • Chinese Progressive Association (refers to Karen Chen)
  • Alternatives for Community and Environment (refers to Dwaign Tyndal)
  • Right to the City of Boston (refers to a quoted activist by the name of Dwaign Tyndal)