Boston Council Grills Wu Administration Over $4.28 Billion FY2024 Budget Proposal

BOSTON — April 24, 2023 — Boston City Council opens FY2024 budget hearings on a $4.28 billion spending plan, 6.8 percent above the prior year. Chief Financial Officer Ashley Groffenberger and Budget Director Jim Williamson presented Mayor Wu's proposal to the Ways and Means Committee, citing property tax growth of $135 million and excise tax revenue rebounding to a projected $254 million — up from $95 million in FY21 actuals — as the primary drivers. Key investments include $4 million for universal pre-K, $26 million in targeted Boston Public Schools spending, $5 million in housing programs, and $1.2 million for violence prevention at Boston Housing Authority sites. Councilor John FitzGerald pressed the administration on low-wage worker compensation and the sustainability of ARPA-funded programs, while Councilor Julia M. Mejia demanded neighborhood-level return-on-investment data, asking: "Dollar for dollar — how is this dollar going to impact this outcome in this particular neighborhood?" Property taxes now make up approximately 72.4 percent of general fund revenue, a figure multiple councilors called unsustainable for fixed-income homeowners.