Council adopts FY2027 general fund budget after cuts to community access, planning and libraries; school line trimmed

The City Council approved the FY2027 general fund appropriation after a series of member-led reductions aimed at trimming agency allocations and clarifying staffing authority.

The clerk read Order One proposing $565,450,363 in general fund departmental expenditures for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, funded by state aid ($320,199,216), the tax levy ($193,253,325), local receipts ($33,307,000) and other sources, the clerk said.

Councilor Farwell moved to reduce the Brockton Community Access appropriation by $225,000 — lowering it from $675,000 to $450,000 — saying he had confirmed with Dr. Claxton that the access organization held roughly $800,000 in cash and that some of the money could be redirected to other local priorities. "I would move to reduce the Brockton Community Access appropriation by $225,000," Farwell said. The motion was seconded and passed.

Farwell also proposed a $110,125 reduction to the Planning and Economic Development Department, arguing that the budget funded a position that had not been created by ordinance and lacked a job description and minimum qualifications. "If we're going to create a new position and we're going to fund it, let's do it right," he said before moving the cut; the amendment passed by roll call.

Councilor DeCastro moved a $98,348 cut to library personal services for non-overtime pay, citing four longstanding vacant circulation positions and saying the library had managed without filling them. The motion was seconded and approved.

After a brief recess to total the amendments, clerks reported the three reductions reduced the Order One total by $433,473 to $565,016,890 for the immediate vote; a roll call announced the order adopted as amended in that sequence.

Later in the meeting Councilor McCastro successfully moved reconsideration of Order One and introduced a further amendment reducing the Brockton Public Schools' net school spending by $35,000 to offset what she characterized as an overpayment to school committee members. The amendment passed on a reverse roll call, 6–3, lowering the order's total reductions to $468,473 and the amended Order One total to $564,981,890. The clerk subsequently announced final adoption of Order One as amended.

Throughout the debate members cautioned that pending FY2026 items (school transportation receipts and CARES Act timing) and broader economic uncertainty could require intra-year adjustments once free cash is certified. A later motion to reconsider all seven budget items failed; the council adjourned afterward.

The council's formal actions on Order One included recorded roll calls for individual amendments and the final adoption; the clerk recorded the final affirmative vote sequence that approved the order as amended.