Ways & Means on May 27, 2026 at 2:00pm

The Boston City Council Committee on Ways and Means held a hearing on May 27, 2026, to discuss a supplemental appropriation request of $22,845,672 to fund Boston Public Schools' operating expenses for the fiscal year 2025-2026. The appropriation primarily addresses projected overruns in health insurance costs ($18.1 million) and utilities ($4.7 million). The Boston Public Schools CFO detailed budget challenges including increased health insurance usage, lower vacancy rates leading to higher salary costs, and rising utility rates driven by rate increases and a cold winter. Councilors questioned the accuracy of budget projections, the impact of staff layoffs including teachers and paraprofessionals, and ongoing issues with school HVAC systems. The council acknowledged the need for better financial forecasting and discussed the importance of maintaining educational support staff despite budget constraints. The supplemental appropriation was set to be voted on by the council by the end of June, following prior approval by the School Committee. No new contracts or procurement actions were reported, but discussions touched on capital improvements related to HVAC and energy efficiency in school buildings.