Boston Council Scrutinizes White Stadium Spending, ISD Staffing at FY26 Budget Hearing

BOSTON — May 5, 2025 — Boston's Ways and Means Committee grilled operations department heads over White Stadium spending, ISD vacancies, and diversity contracting at a May 5 FY26 budget hearing. Committee Chair Brian Worrell convened the session covering the Inspectional Services Department, Property Management, and Public Facilities Department, with Chief of Operations Dion Irish leading the administration panel. Executive Director Carlton Jones confirmed $7.6 million has been spent to date on White Stadium against a confirmed total budget of $91 million — $50 million already appropriated and $41 million to be added — with Bond of Wakefield serving as construction manager for the city's east-side portion. Inspectional Services Commissioner Tanya Del Rio reported permitting review times fell from 50 days to 35 days this fiscal year, a projected salary surplus of $1.7 million reflects 22 true vacancies rather than the roughly 39 shown in budget documents, and building violations have dropped from 5,000 open cases in early 2024 to 1,500 today. On Madison Park High School, Chief Irish confirmed a Massachusetts School Building Authority application was filed in mid-April, with a response on whether the $650 million to $700 million project enters the MSBA pipeline expected in November or December.