Collective Bargaining Shapes Boston’s Personnel Spending

Opportunities for Fiscal Planning and Cost Transparency in a Constrained Revenue Environment

How much does the City of Boston appropriate for personnel, and how has personnel spending changed relative to staffing levels over time? What do Boston’s personnel costs look like across funding sources and departments? Collective bargaining agreements establish compensation, benefits, work rules, and other recurring obligations that affect both current budgets and long-term liabilities. What tools can the City use to understand how collective bargaining agreements will affect departmental costs and long-term fiscal obligations? How can Boston strengthen fiscal planning, cost transparency, and accountability for personnel spending in a constrained revenue environment?

Report Objectives

This report provides information and insights on:

• • The size, funding, and composition of Boston’s workforce and personnel budget
  • Trends in staffing and personnel spending across wages, benefits, overtime, pensions, and other major cost categories
  • Three collective bargaining agreements for the School, Fire and Police Departments
  • Opportunities to strengthen multi-year cost analysis, transparency, and oversight of personnel spending and proposed labor agreements

To learn more about Boston’s personnel spending and the effects of collective bargaining agreements, read the full report here: