Boston City Council Approves $7.75 Million Police Contract Supplement

BOSTON — May 15, 2024 — Boston City Council approves $7.75 million police contract supplement and advances short-term rental enforcement hearing. The council voted 11-0 on May 15 to pass companion dockets 0744 and 0745, transferring $7,754,649 from the city's collective bargaining reserve to the Boston Police Department to cover costs under a five-year agreement with the Boston Police Superior Officers Federation, which runs through June 30, 2025, and includes base wage increases totaling 9 percent over the contract term. Councilor Brian Worrell, chair of Ways and Means, noted the FY24 budget had set aside $76.2 million for collective bargaining, with $59.5 million already spent through 13 prior supplemental appropriations. The council also referred to committee a hearing order on enforcement of the city's 2018 short-term rental ordinance, with Councilor Sharon Durkan citing data showing repeat code violators among more than 1,000 registered properties and Councilor Gabriela Coletta Zapata flagging an executive-suites loophole that exempts corporate operators from the community impact fee designed to protect affordable housing. A resolution supporting state legislation to reclassify Uber, Lyft, and DoorDash drivers as employees — backed by Councilor Edward M. Flynn and citing more than $266 million in unpaid Massachusetts benefits over a 10-year period — was blocked from a floor vote by Councilor Durkan and referred to the Committee on Labor, Workforce and Economic Development.