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Woburn City Council adopts $199.6M FY2025 budget after divided debate over school spending and senior relief
Summary
After a three‑hour special meeting and public hearing, the Woburn City Council adopted a $199,597,904.45 fiscal year 2025 budget that includes the school department's request; the vote followed hours of public comment urging both full school funding and protections for seniors facing higher property taxes.
WOBURN, Mass. — The Woburn City Council on June 10 adopted a $199,597,904.45 fiscal year 2025 budget following an extended public hearing that laid bare tensions between funding schools and protecting seniors from higher property taxes.
Mayor Tom Concannon told the council the proposal was the product of extensive review and collaboration between the mayor—s office, department heads and the school committee and urged passage "as proposed as amended." "This proposed budget is a result of a lot of hard work from a lot of good people with the best of intentions to try to deliver a budget that serves the needs of the citizens of Woburn in a way that the taxpayers can afford," he said.
Why it matters: The adopted package combines a $177,455,240.26 general‑fund budget and enterprise fund totals that produce a $199.6 million citywide spending plan. Public commenters and several councilors drew a direct link between the school department—s roughly $11 million increase request and projected average residential tax impacts some residents estimate at several hundred dollars a year.
Public pressure and council debate: More than 30 residents spoke during the hearing. Marie Lingblom, director of the Woburn Council on Aging, described seniors visiting her office "frantic" and warned a typical increase of "600 to $800" could be "absolutely devastating for a lot of seniors who are on a fixed income." Dr. Lisonbee Van Deventer, a parent, urged the council not to cut the school committee—s request, saying reductions would force layoffs and reduce services for vulnerable students.
Councilors spent more than an hour debating whether to continue the hearing to give more time for review and for the mayor and school committee to find mitigation measures. Councilor Joanne Campbell moved to continue the hearing to June 17 to allow further study and to explore use of available free cash for limited relief; other councilors warned that state deadlines and contractual obligations for the school department (including a statutory June 15 timeline cited during debate) limited the council—s ability to delay without risking personnel and contractual consequences.
How the council acted: The council voted to close the public hearing and then proceeded page‑by‑page through the budget document. A motion to eliminate a proposed chief of staff position failed. The council approved the Woburn Public Schools line item as amended and then adopted the water and sewer enterprise fund ($24,225,863.77) and the general fund by roll call. The final total FY2025 budget was adopted by roll call vote; recorded voting showed several members opposed while a majority voted in favor.
What comes next: The council referred several transfers and capital appropriation orders to the committee on finance for follow‑up and set a special meeting date for continued budget debate where needed. The mayor and school officials said they will continue meetings with council and auditors to operationalize the adopted budget and to explore tax‑relief options for vulnerable residents.
The meeting adjourned at 9:44 p.m.
