MAYOR JANEY’S PROPOSED FY2022 OPERATING BUDGET, CAPITAL PLAN, AND BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS BUDGET PASSES CITY COUNCIL, INCLUDING $81.5 MILLION EMERGENCY RELIEF PLAN, FUNDED THROUGH AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN

BOSTON - Wednesday, June 30, 2021 - Today, Mayor Janey and the Boston City Council passed the largest Operating, Capital and Schools budgets in Boston's history. This budget includes an additional $31.5 million in funding for the emergency relief plan, building on the previously announced $50 million. In total, the City of Boston has proposed $81.5 million to support an equitable recovery and reopening for Boston residents, workers and small businesses in partnership with the City Council, using funding the City of Boston has received from the federal government following the passage of the American Rescue Plan. As part of Mayor Janey’s commitment to an equitable recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, funding will be allocated to City and community programs and initiatives, focused on public health, the economy and resources for individuals hardest hit by the pandemic. Boston expects to receive over $500 million through the American Rescue Plan to support the City’s recovery from the pandemic through the end of 2024, with millions in other federal funds going directly to our schools and rental relief efforts.

Also today, Mayor Janey’s proposed budgets were passed by the Boston City Council, including the Fiscal Year 2022 Operating Budget, passing with a 10-2 vote; the Capital Plan, passing with 12-0 vote; and the Boston Public Schools budget, passing with a 10-2 vote. Mayor Janey’s previously resubmitted budgets can be found here.

“The budgets passed today make Boston stronger, more equitable, and will help every resident through this year of recovery, reopening, and renewal,” said Mayor Kim Janey.  “I am proud to lead our city with funding priorities that reflect our shared values. I thank the Boston City Council and the residents of Boston for their partnership and participation in our Fiscal Year 2022 budgeting process.” 

The $81.5 million emergency relief plan will focus on the following priority areas:

$14 million to support public health response:

• $7 million for COVID-19 response including mobile vaccine and testing operations and outreach
• $6 million for behavioral health and substance use, including funding for opioid treatment and services
• $1 million for maintaining digital access to City services

$32.9 million for communities most impacted by COVID-19:

• $22.4 million for investments in affordable housing and housing navigation services
  • $20 million for acquisition of occupied buildings to prevent displacement
  • $2 million for additional land acquisition opportunities
  • $400,000 for housing navigation assistance and stabilization services 
• $3.5 million for addressing health disparities and social determinants of health 
  • $2.5 million to tackle key gaps in social determinants of health, as outlined by the Health Inequities Task Force
  • $1 million for community violence intervention programs
• $2 million for supporting childcare and early learning initiatives 
• $2 million for BPS student and family supports, including additional dollars for social workers to ensure a full time social worker in every school
• $2 million for ensuring pedestrian safety through additional support to the Slow Streets program 
• $500,000 for green building retrofits 
• $500,000 for supporting language access, communications, and evaluation

$18.6 million to address the economic impact of the pandemic on food access, housing, arts, culture, and tourism:

• $4 million for arts and culture, including $3 million for the creative economy industry to help working artists reopen safely and $1 million to support other projects and creative professionals across the city 
• $3.1 million for programs strengthening homeownership and supporting individuals facing housing insecurity
• $3 million for food access and equity, including initiatives to support community-based solutions, expand local growing spaces, pilot an affordable community supported agriculture (CSA) model, provide assistance with applying to safety-net programs, and destigmatize utilization of food resources
• $3 million for expansion of Green Jobs program, building on the $1 million investment in the FY22 budget
• $3 million for digital equity and access, including an initiative to integrate digital literacy training into job training programs to meet labor market needs and an initiative to expand WiFi in public housing
• $1 million for basic needs assistance for families not eligible for previous COVID-19 benefits
• $1 million to expand reach of All-Inclusive Boston campaign and support the tourism industry 
• $500,000 for expansion of Young Adult jobs pilot, building on the $300,000 investment in the FY22 budget

$16 million for small business relief:

• $8 million to build on previous small business funds and create a new, flexible grant fund designed to help small businesses cover expenses related to their reopening, recovery, and growth
• $7.5 million to meet existing demand for the Commercial Rental Relief Fund, designed to stabilize small businesses and prevent commercial displacement due to the pandemic
• $500,000 for expansion of High Roads Kitchen Restaurant Relief Fund

The allocation of this immediate funding was guided by the City of Boston’s Equitable Recovery Coordinating Committee (ERCC), which is being formed to ensure the equitable and efficient coordination of stimulus resources for the short- and long-term benefit of Boston residents, with an intentional focus on those who have been hurt most by the pandemic. The ERCC is steered by City leadership, with additional representation across City departments and external stakeholders. 

The ERCC will continue to be informed by residents and community stakeholders. The $81.5 million emergency relief fund represents 15 percent of the overall $500 million federal investment that Boston expects to receive through 2024. The City of Boston will launch a citywide engagement process and work with the people of Boston to program the remaining federal funds. 

For more information about the budget, please visit here.