Thursday, June 4, 2026 at 6 PM

Agenda 10 items

1. 11. Adjournment
2. 1. Opening Ceremonies
3. 1.1.
   26-0976 Roll Call Placed on file

   Call of the Roll.

4. 2. Citations
5. 3. Public Hearings
6. 4. Orders, Ordinances, Resolutions and Motions of Members
7. 5. Unfinished Business
8. 6. Reports of Committees
9. 7. Communications of the Mayor
10. 7.1.
    26-0950 Mayor's Request Referred for recommendation

    Requesting the appropriation of $376,778,493 to fund the Fiscal Year 2027 General Fund Operating Budget.

    {\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\deff0\deflang1033{\fonttbl{\f0\fnil\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}} {\colortbl ;\red0\green0\blue0;} \viewkind4\uc1\pard\cf1\f0\fs24 Budget which is the product of a multi-month, community-driven process designed to deliver results, strengthen core services, and uphold Somerville\rquote s values with action. While operating amid historic statewide fiscal pressures and slowing economic growth, the city successfully closed a $5.4 million budget gap to present a balanced $394 million budget, which represents a 3.7% year-over-year increase, that protects essential city services, historic school funding, and long-term community investments. To resolve the fiscal shortfall while preserving public services, the city utilized a strategic combination of structural adjustments, cost controls, and workforce restructuring, as follows:\par \par Strategy Tool\tab Contribution\tab Action Taken\par \par Workforce Restructuring $2.0M Eliminated 16 vacant positions; \par conducted 13 layoffs as a last resort.\par \par Operating Budget Reviews $1.7M Cut citywide non-personnel \par operating budgets by ~5%; shifted \par select staff and expenses to \par grants and settlement funds.\par \par Reserve Strategy\tab $0.9M Utilized $14M in reserves to \par buy down debt and shift \par capital projects, creating recurring\par budget capacity. \par \par Revenue Cost Recovery $750k\tab Increased revenues, raised select\par fees, and optimized permit timing.\par \par The FY27 budget prioritizes education and infrastructure, with the largest categorical funding increases distributed as follows: 1) $8.63 million for Somerville Public Schools, 2) $2.68 million for Health Insurance & Fringe Benefits, 3) $1.93 million for Public Works, 4) $160,000 for Public Safety, and $633,000 for all other categories.\par \par The school funding boost represents the largest dollar increase in the history of Somerville Public Schools and includes these key educational initiatives:\par \bullet Personnel Support: 5 new special education teachers and 6 instructional coaches/interventionists.\par \bullet Operational Funding: A $600,000 increase for substitute teacher coverage.\par \bullet Equity & Student Support: Expanded equity formula funding, continued free MBTA passes for grades 7-12, and the expansion of the Working on Womanhood program.\par \bullet Infrastructure: Significant city-funded school building upgrades.\par \par The city is maintaining robust investments in core quality-of-life services, infrastructure maintenance, and operational modernizations, including:\par \bullet Public Infrastructure: Expanded road paving, sidewalk repairs, public tree care, and enhanced rodent control.\par \bullet Mobility & Safety: Target investments in street safety, overall public safety improvements, and the Fire Response "Green Wave" initiative.\par \bullet Digital & Service Overhauls: Structural upgrades to the city website and mobile app, an \par overhaul of business/homeowner permitting processes, and facilities maintenance tracked via SomerStat \par performance measurements.\par \par The FY27 budget continues to back Somerville's social and equity infrastructure through targeting funding across municipal divisions:\par \bullet Emergency & Safety Re- Imagining: Continued funding for emergency co-response models and\par civilian oversight.\par \bullet Housing & Anti-Displacement: Dedicated resources for new affordable housing production, pipeline expansion for future housing projects, tenant rights protections, and legal supports for housing and immigrants.\par \bullet Civil & Language Access: Dedicated infrastructure support for the Language & Communications Access Office, Engagement & Neighborhood Services, and the ADA Coordinator.\par \bullet Equity & Belonging Infrastructure: Direct funding for the Equity & Belonging Division, Somerville Office of Immigrant Advancement (SOIA), Police Accountability Program Director, and the Public Safety for All Project Manager.\par \par While slowing residential and commercial growth projections present structural headwinds for long-term planning, the city continues to push forward on its major foundational initiatives. In the area of Economic Development, the upcoming relocation of medical technology company TransMedics to Somerville is projected to bring 900 jobs to the city by 2032, anchoring future commercial growth. Additionally, with respect to Urban Planning and Climate Action, dedicated resources remain behind the delivery of the Davis Square Neighborhood Plan and the continued implementation of Climate Forward goals.\par }

    • 📎 FY27 GF Appropriation Order
    • 📎 6.4.26_City FY27 Budget Submisson Presentation (26-0950)
11. 7.2.
    26-0953 Mayor's Request Referred for recommendation

    Requesting the appropriation of $794,782 to fund the Fiscal Year 2027 Kennedy School Pool Enterprise Fund budget.

    {\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\deff0\deflang1033{\fonttbl{\f0\fnil\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}} {\colortbl ;\red0\green0\blue0;} \viewkind4\uc1\pard\cf1\f0\fs24 Councilor Wheeler moved to refer items 7.2 through 7.7 to the Finance Committee.\par }

    • 📎 Kennedy School Pool Appropriation Order FY2027
12. 7.3.
    26-0954 Mayor's Request Referred for recommendation

    Requesting the appropriation of $237,500 to fund the Fiscal Year 2027 Dilboy Fields Enterprise Fund Budget.

    {\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\deff0\deflang1033{\fonttbl{\f0\fnil\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}} {\colortbl ;\red0\green0\blue0;} \viewkind4\uc1\pard\cf1\f0\fs24 Councilor Wheeler moved to refer items 7.2 through 7.7 to the Finance Committee.\par }

    • 📎 Dilboy Field Enterprise Fund Appropriation FY2027
13. 7.4.
    26-0970 Mayor's Request Referred for recommendation

    Requesting the appropriation of $238,791 from the Kennedy School Pool Enterprise Fund Retained Earnings to support the Fiscal Year 2027 Kennedy School Pool Enterprise Fund Budget.

    {\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\deff0\deflang1033{\fonttbl{\f0\fnil\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}} {\colortbl ;\red0\green0\blue0;} \viewkind4\uc1\pard\cf1\f0\fs24 Councilor Wheeler moved to refer items 7.2 through 7.7 to the Finance Committee.\par }

14. 7.5.
    26-0969 Mayor's Request Referred for recommendation

    Requesting the appropriation of $86,200 from the Dilboy Fields Enterprise Fund Retained Earnings Account to subsidize the Fiscal Year 2027 Dilboy Fields Enterprise Fund Budget.

    {\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\deff0\deflang1033{\fonttbl{\f0\fnil\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}} {\colortbl ;\red0\green0\blue0;} \viewkind4\uc1\pard\cf1\f0\fs24 Councilor Wheeler moved to refer items 7.2 through 7.7 to the Finance Committee.\par }

15. 7.6.
    26-0968 Mayor's Request Referred for recommendation

    Requesting the appropriation or reserve of $8,367,344 in estimated Fiscal Year 2027 Community Preservation Act (CPA) revenue for CPA projects and expenses.

    {\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\deff0\deflang1033{\fonttbl{\f0\fnil\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}} {\colortbl ;\red0\green0\blue0;} \viewkind4\uc1\pard\cf1\f0\fs24 Councilor Wheeler moved to refer items 7.2 through 7.7 to the Finance Committee.\par }

    • 📎 FY27 Community Preservation Plan
16. 7.7.
    26-0948 Mayor's Request Referred for recommendation

    Requesting the approval of the expenditure limitations for departmental Revolving Funds for Fiscal Year 2027.

    {\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\deff0\deflang1033{\fonttbl{\f0\fnil\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}} {\colortbl ;\red0\green0\blue0;} \viewkind4\uc1\pard\cf1\f0\fs24 Councilor Wheeler moved to refer items 7.2 through 7.7 to the Finance Committee.\par }

    • 📎 DepartmentalRevolvingSpendingCapsFY27
17. 8. Communications of City Officers
18. 8.1.
    26-0974 Officer's Communication Placed on file

    Superintendent of Schools conveying the School Department budget for Fiscal Year 2027.

    {\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\deff0\deflang1033{\fonttbl{\f0\fnil\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}} {\colortbl ;\red0\green0\blue0;} \viewkind4\uc1\pard\cf1\f0\fs24 Somerville Public Schools (SPS) Superintendent Dr. Rub\'e9n Carmona and Dr. Robert Berretta, SPS Chief Financial Officer, presented the FY27 Superintendent\rquote s Budget. The presentation highlighted FY26 achievements, strategic priorities, major cost drivers, and detailed personnel and non\u8209?personnel budget changes. The District emphasized transparency and stewardship, noting that this year\rquote s materials \ldblquote provide a higher level of transparency and detail than prior years." \par The FY27 priorities are aligned with the district\rquote s strategic plan. The Somerville Public School Department remains focused on Academic Excellence, Equity & Access, Wellness & Joy, and Family & Community Engagement. The District remains committed to maintaining staff levels, advocating for state funding, and actively managing rising costs and inflation.\par \par New contracts for SEU Units A, C, and E-which make up about 75% of staff-will lead to an average salary increase of 8.19%. For Special Education Investments, the number of special education teachers will increase from 71 to 76, out\u8209?of\u8209?district tuition is expected to rise from $6.9M to $7.9M, and transportation costs will grow by $1.6M. Additionally, the budget for substitutes is expected to rise from $715,000 to $1.35M, driven primarily by the expanded paid parental leave policy. Finally, in\u8209?district transportation expenses will increase from $1.45M to $1.93M, which includes providing MBTA passes for all students in grades 7-12.\par \par Councilor Davis and Councilor Clingan were recused from this item.\par }

    • 📎 FY27 Budget Presentation to City Council (6.4.26)
    • 📎 FY27 Average Salaries by Bargaining Unit
    • 📎 FY27 Budget Presentation to City Council (6.4.26)
    • 📎 FY27 Level Service Overview
    • 📎 FY27 Master Staffing Plan
    • 📎 FY27 Non-Personnel Budgets
    • 📎 Grant Funded Salaries Detail
    • 📎 Estimated Longevity Pay Obligations
    • 📎 FTEs by Bargaining Unit
    • 📎 FTEs by Budget Organization
    • 📎 FTEs by Function Code
    • 📎 FTEs by Position
    • 📎 FTEs by School Location
19. 8.2.
    26-0975 Officer's Communication Placed on file

    School Committee Chair conveying the School Department budget for Fiscal Year 2027, approved by the School Committee Finance and Facilities Subcommittee on May 20, 2026.

    {\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\deff0\deflang1033{\fonttbl{\f0\fnil\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}{\f1\fnil\fcharset0 TimesNewRoman;}} {\colortbl ;\red0\green0\blue0;} \viewkind4\uc1\pard\f0\fs24 Somerville Public Schools (SPS) Superintendent Dr. Rub\'e9n Carmona and Dr. Robert Berretta, SPS Chief Financial Officer\f1 \cf1\f0 reviewed the personnel and non-personnel allocations previously vetted by the Finance and Facilities subcommittee. The personnel budget, as voted by the subcommittee, increased from $94.9M to $104.9M and represents a net staffing change of +8.0 FTE. Budgeted additions include special education teachers, interventionists, ESL specialists, counselors, instructional coaches, and support staff. The FY27 non\u8209?personnel budget amounts to $18.2 million, with $3.5 million in out\u8209?of\u8209?district tuition moved to Circuit Breaker funding.\par \par The School Committee voted to approve the total FY27 budget of $123.1 million, which represents a 7.58% increase over the FY26 budget.\par \par Councilor Davis and Councilor Clingan were recused from this item.\par }

    • 📎 26-0975 _ Finance and Facilities Subcommittee
20. 9. New Business
21. 10. Supplemental Items
22. 11. Adjournment