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Lawrence budget committee sets schedule for 2026 municipal budget hearings
Summary
The Lawrence City Budget and Finance Committee announced it will begin FY2026 budget hearings the week of May 19, outlining a multi-session schedule covering city departments, schools and public safety.
The Lawrence City Budget and Finance Committee announced Tuesday that it will begin hearings on the 2026 municipal budget starting Monday, May 19, and presented a multi-day review schedule covering city departments, public safety and local schools.
The schedule matters because it sets when department heads and school officials will present budget requests to the committee and when the public can follow deliberations: committee members said the schedule will be posted online and distributed to department heads.
Committee leadership opened the meeting at 6:11 p.m. and noted the hearing dates. Committee chair (name not specified) said the session was being conducted both in person and remotely and cited “Pursuant to chapter 20 of the acts of 2022” as the legal basis for hybrid participation. The chair announced that the schedule will be posted to the City Council’s Facebook and YouTube channels and sent to department directors.
Under the plan, the committee will review administrative and finance functions on Monday, May 19, including the office of budget and finance, the comptroller’s office, purchasing, information technology, the assessor, treasurer, tax collector, and personnel, plus the City Attorney’s Office, the City Clerk’s Division (including elections and vital records) and a revenue review. On Wednesday, May 21, the committee will hear the city council budget, the mayor’s office budget, and the planning and development office, which the chair said includes community development, planning boards and commissions, the zoning board and economic development, as well as the police department.
On Thursday, May 22, the committee will review budgets for the Council on Aging, the veterans office, the recreation department, the public library, the fire department and inspectional services; a special services item was also listed for that date. Wednesday, May 28 is scheduled for Lawrence Public Schools, charter school and school choice items, Greater Lawrence Technical School, debt service, intergovernmental assessments, employee benefits, risk management and other finances. The chair said a final scheduled date would follow.
Acting CAFO Ramona Saballos was mentioned as a presenter; the chair noted that Saballos was not present at the start because budget hearings will begin the following week. The mayor, identified in the transcript as Bridal a De Pena, was listed among officials associated with the budget presentation.
The committee indicated the schedule will be shared with department heads and posted on the City Council’s official social channels so residents can view hearings live. No motions or votes were taken on the schedule at the meeting; the announcement was presented as the committee’s plan for upcoming hearings.
