Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, a Democrat, has rejected a City Council proposal that would have reduced funding for the city’s police department and veteran services.
In a letter to members of the Boston City Council, Wu emphasized the importance of a budget that is responsive to the needs of constituents, fiscally responsible, and focused on delivering effective city services that enhance residents’ quality of life. “Our budget must be responsive to the needs of our constituents, fiscally responsible, and built on a foundation of effective delivery of City services that are central to our residents’ quality of life,” Wu said in a letter.
The proposed budget approved by the council allocated $4.2 billion for the city but included a $31 million cut to the Boston Police Department and a $900,000 reduction in funding for veteran services.
Wu rejects BPD budget cuts. Said Larry Calderone, “We’re grateful the Mayor saw fit to reject the council’s misguided efforts to dramatically and disproportionately impact the BPD budget, and, by extension, the dept’s ability to effectively protect-n-serve the people of Boston.” pic.twitter.com/RqqM47Eh22
— Boston Police Patrolmen's Association (BPPA) (@BostonPatrolmen) June 17, 2023
The proposal also included an $8 million increase in funding for participatory budgeting, a process that allows Boston residents to have a say in how tax dollars are allocated.
Mayor Wu’s budget proposal differed significantly, as it only allocated $2 million for participatory budgeting. In her letter, she argued that the proposed cuts to the police budget were illusory since the city is obligated to cover salary and overtime expenses incurred by the department.
🎙️PRESS CONFERENCE🎙️
Boston Police Officer Shot,
Mayor Michelle Wu’s Statement: pic.twitter.com/gc9UAyVn3W— Live Boston (@LiveBoston617) June 10, 2023
With Mayor Wu’s veto, the budget will now be sent back to the council, where it would require a two-thirds majority to override the veto. With 12 members on the council, eight members would need to vote in favor of the override. However, only seven members voted to approve the proposal that was sent to Mayor Wu.
Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson, chair of the city’s Ways and Means Committee, defended the council’s proposed cuts, stating that they would not result in job losses for city employees. She argued that her analysis showed the Boston Police Department could still have around $25 million in additional funds next year.
Fernandes Anderson criticized the Wu administration for lacking transparency and expressed regret about the proposed cuts to veteran services. She clarified that the funding for veteran services would not have been affected since the proposed cuts were eligible for reimbursement by the state.
The Better Budget Alliance, a group advocating for more participatory budgeting, criticized Mayor Wu’s veto. However, neither Fernandes Anderson nor her office provided immediate comment in response to inquiries from Fox News.
