Somerville finance committee approves cut to chief administrative officer pay, rejects police-staffing reductions

Somerville — The Somerville City Council finance committee, meeting as a committee of the whole on June 24, 2025, approved a $186,744 reduction to the executive administration personal services line intended to remove the chief administrative officer salary from the proposed FY2026 budget and rejected multiple proposals to reduce police staffing.

The vote on the CAO salary cut carried 6–4 with one abstention. Councilor Scott sponsored the motion; supporters said it revisits a position the council has questioned in past budget cycles. Opponents cautioned the change could disrupt programs and noted the city has taken steps this year to codify the position in a charter change pending before the state legislature.

Why it matters: The committee’s decisions on “cut night” shape the revised FY2026 budget that the administration will finalize and return to the full council. Cuts or restorations approved by the committee will be packaged and sent to the mayor’s office for reconciliation over the next 48 hours and then taken up by the full council on Thursday.

Councilor Scott introduced the CAO-salary reduction as a $186,744 cut that he said was consistent with past council scrutiny of the position. The roll call recorded votes in favor from Councilors Emba, Scott, Burnley, Strezo, Klingen and Davis; votes against from Councilors Wilson, Ewing Campan, Saeed and President Pena De Neufeld; and one abstention by Councilor McLaughlin.

Debate on police staffing dominated the meeting. Councilor Scott proposed a $496,370.34 cut from the police…