The Boston City Council has given its approval to an operating budget of nearly $4.3 billion after weeks of negotiations and disagreements with Mayor Michelle Wu. The council engaged in a

lengthy session, lasting six hours, and faced off against the mayor over proposed cuts, including a push by progressive councilors to reduce the police budget.

During the marathon meeting, the group of progressive councilors attempted to override several of Mayor Wu's vetoes but succeeded in passing only one of their proposed measures. Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson expressed her commitment to supporting progressive policies that uplift the city and move it in the right direction, criticizing both the council members who voted against such policies and the mayor, who consistently rejected them.

Earlier this month, Mayor Wu rejected the council's proposed $30 million cut to the police department budget. As a result, the final operating budget allocates approximately $405 million to the Boston Police Department, representing a $9 million increase compared to the previous year's budget.

A spokesperson for the mayor expressed gratitude to the City Council for approving a budget that restores full funding to essential city services and public safety.

Additional highlights from the approved operating budget include:

- $1.4 billion allocated to Boston Public Schools, representing an almost 5% increase from the previous year.

- $4 million in new funding to expand the city's universal pre-K program by adding 350 seats.

- $3.3 million allocated to keep emergency housing sites operational throughout the year.

- $6 million for upgrading Boston's 311 online system, which handles complaints and requests.

- $500,000 to subsidize 10,000 Bluebikes memberships for city residents.

Regarding the police budget, the outcome deviates significantly from the widespread calls to "defund the police" three years ago. Mayor Wu campaigned on a police reform platform and previously advocated for cuts to the police budget as a city councilor. However, as mayor, she has shifted her stance, referring to such cuts as "illusory" due to contractual obligations to cover police overtime. Mayor Wu is currently focused on negotiating changes to areas like overtime and disciplinary procedures in the new police union contract.

Councilor Fernandes Anderson proposed a smaller cut of approximately $1.45 million to the police department, intending to allocate those funds to establish an Office of Participatory Budgeting, where city residents can propose projects. However, the proposal failed to pass with a 5-7 vote.

The only successful override vote was for an increase of nearly $600,000 to the salaries of municipal security officers. Nonetheless, even this decision may face a challenge from the mayor's office. Wu's spokesperson stated that they would review the legal validity of the override provision, arguing that the city charter grants sole authority to the administration, not the City Council, to contract with municipal unions.

The newly passed operating budget includes funding for additional seats in the city's universal pre-K program, as well as resources to improve Boston public housing properties and transition them to become fossil fuel-free. The new fiscal year is set to begin on July 1. Photo by Daderot, Wikimedia commons.