City Manager Louis A. DePasquale Submits Proposed FY21 Budget to City Council

On May 11, 2020, City Manager Louis A. DePasquale submitted the proposed Operating and Capital Budgets for Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21), as well as the proposed FY22-FY25 Operating and Capital Plans, to the Cambridge City Council. The proposed Operating Budget of $715,264,225 represents an increase of $34,655,884 or 5.1% over the FY20 Adjusted Budget. The proposed Capital Budget is $312,285,940.

The public is encouraged to review the budget backup documents which contain a special joint City Manager and Mayor COVID-19 message (Section I), City Council Goals, Key Initiatives for FY21, each Department narrative (Section V), and FY21 Capital projects (Section VI). Arrangements may also be made to obtain physical copies of the budget backup documents by contacting the Budget Office at budgetoffice@cambridgema.gov or 617-349-4220.

The Finance Committee will conduct public hearings on the FY21 city and school budgets, covering the fiscal period July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021, on Tuesday, May 26, at 9 a.m., Tuesday, June 2, at 9 a.m., Wednesday, June 3, at 6 p.m. (School Department). The projected budget adoption date is Monday, June 15, 2020.

These hearings will be held remotely or in the Sullivan Chamber, City Hall if permitted, and will follow the schedule outlined below. The proposed budget will include recommendations from the City Manager concerning capital and operating budgets.

Pursuant to the Executive Order issued by Governor Baker on March 15, 2020 (“Governor’s Order”), Cambridge City Hall has been closed to the public since 5 p.m. on Monday, March 16, 2020. If the Governor’s Order is still in effect at the time of the hearings, members of the public will not be permitted to be physically present in the Sullivan Chamber but may watch the hearings remotely. Members of the public may watch the hearings on the City’s Cable channel 22-CityView or online via the City of Cambridge Open Meeting Portal at www.cambridgema.gov.

All public comment for such hearings, if held remotely, will be conducted through ZOOM virtual meetings. Members of the public are invited to be heard and/or submit written testimony. Sign up for public comment at https://www.cambridgema.gov/publiccomment. Those who do not have access to the Internet may contact the City Council Office at 617-349-4280 to be added to the list and for instructions on how to join ZOOM via telephone if the hearings are held remotely. 

* Date changes for individual departments may occur.

For the Committee, E. Denise Simmons, and Dennis J. Carlone, Finance Committee Co-Chairs.