Medford City Council Passes FY27 Budget

MEDFORD, MA — The City Council approved the city's Fiscal Year 2027 operating budget during its most recent meeting, adopting a $217.4 million spending plan after amending it to reduce funding for the legal department.

The amended budget was passed by a vote of six in favor against one opposed, with Councilor George Scarpelli casting the lone vote against the spending plan. Before that vote, a majority of councilors rejected a proposed 1/12 budget that would have allowed the city to continue operating on a month-to-month basis instead of adopting a full-year budget. The council then proceeded to consider and ultimately approve the amended FY2027 spending plan, which included reductions to the Law Department appropriation.

Originally submitted by Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn, the Fiscal Year 2027 budget appropriates $217,375,456.13 across the General Fund, Public, Educational and Governmental Access Special Revenue Fund and Water and Sewer Enterprise Fund.

The largest single appropriation is $89.1 million for Medford Public Schools, while the Police Department is budgeted at approximately $17.48 million, the Fire Department at $16.01 million, and the Department of Public Works Highway Division at just over $15 million. The budget also includes $34.08 million for insurance costs and $17.55 million for pension obligations, according to the mayor's budget submission.

The spending plan also includes a $30,030,904.68 Water and Sewer Enterprise Fund, which is funded through enterprise revenues, as well as a $276,101.97 PEG Access Special Revenue Fund supported through cable access fees.

According to the budget document, the city's operating budget will primarily be funded through the Fiscal Year 2027 tax levy and other general revenues. Additional funding will come from transfers from the Sale of Cemetery Lots Fund, Cemetery Perpetual Care Fund and Casino Mitigation Fund.

The City Council spent several weeks reviewing departmental budgets before taking its final vote. The budget takes effect on Wednesday, July 1.

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