Ways & Means FY27 Budget: Participatory Budgeting on April 23, 2026 at 2:00pm

The Boston City Council Committee on Ways and Means held a public hearing on April 23, 2026, to review the FY27 budget for the Office of Participatory Budgeting. The office's recommended operating budget for FY27 is $1,891,561, representing an 11.4% decrease from FY26, primarily due to a staff reclassification and reductions in special appropriations. Despite the budget decrease, $2 million is allocated for participatory budgeting projects, which are selected through a citywide resident engagement process involving idea collection, proposal development, and voting. The office contracts with community organizations to facilitate outreach and engagement, with 19 nonprofits involved in the latest cycle. Councilors discussed the geographic distribution of outreach and proposal development events, emphasizing the need for equitable representation across all districts. Questions were raised about outreach to veterans and military families, youth participation, and the timeline for transferring funds to city departments for project implementation. The office highlighted ongoing efforts to increase youth engagement and track project progress, with monthly check-ins with departments responsible for implementation. No motions or votes on budget changes were recorded during the hearing, but councilors expressed support for expanding participatory budgeting and improving outreach strategies.