Boston ended FY16 with a $1.9M surplus, smaller than the $7.4M surplus in FY15. The surplus is due to actual receipts exceeding budgeted revenues by $25.9M, which was greater than the $24.0M that actual spending exceeded final appropriations. (read more>)
Student performance at a number of BPS schools improved in 2016 according to a report by the state. The improvement includes 12 schools rising to Level 1 status, but low performing schools remain a challenge across the District. This year 55% of Boston schools are classified as low-performing, down from 64% in 2015. (read more . . .)
At the request of the Mayor, the City Council unanimously approved the appropriation of $4M from the City’s Surplus Property Disposition Fund to support public safety services at the Boston Housing Authority (BHA) in FY17. This Fund consists of the proceeds from the sale of city property and has primarily been used for capital or related one-time expenses. Approving $4M from this Fund for a departmental operating expense is a new precedent, which is troubling.
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