►
From YouTube: Committee on Ways & Means on February 11, 2021
Description
Docket #0226 - Hearing regarding a mid-year update on the City’s FY21 fiscal status
A
Eight
city
councillor
and
also
the
chair
of
the
city
council's
committee
on
ways
and
means
this
public
hearing
is
being
recorded.
um
It's
being
live
streamed
at
boston.gov
city
council
dash
tv
and
broadcast
on
xfinity
channel,
8,
rcn,
channel
82
and
fios
channel
964..
um
We
will
be
taking
public
testimony
at
the
end
of
this
hearing.
A
If
you
wish
to
testify
via
video
conference,
you
should
email,
michelle,
m-I-c-h-e-l-l-e
dot,
a
dot
goldberg
g-o-l-d-b-e-r-g
at
boston.gov
to
sign
up,
and
we
do
ask
when
you're
called
at
the
end
of
the
hearing
that
you
state
your
name
and
affiliation
or
residence
and
limit
your
comments.
So
just
two
minutes
just
so
we
can
get
everybody
in.
You
can
also
submit
written
testimony
by
emailing
ccc.wm,
that's
for
ways
and
means
so
ccc.wm
boston.gov,
and
we
accept
testimony
after
the
hearing
as
well.
A
But
this
has
been
a
more
uncertain
time
than
most
and
there
are
a
number
of
things
since
the
city
council
passed
this
budget
in
late
june.
For
for
a
july,
first
fiscal
year
start
there's
been
a
lot
of
moving
um
pieces.
So
we've
seen
a
lot
of
federal
funds
come
in,
get
spent
not
all
get
spent,
some
anticipated,
etc,
and
then
excise
taxes,
which
are
the
taxes
the
city
gets
from
hotels,
restaurants,
um
airplane
fuel
car
registrations.
These
things
like
um
because
of
the
obviously
the
major
impact
of
the
kova
19
pandemic
on
our
economy.
A
I'm
so
welcome
to
them
in
the
interest
of
really
getting
that
presentation
out
there
and
making
sure
that
counselor
time
is
spent
on
questions.
I'm
gonna
forego
kind
of
just
opening
remarks
and
send
us
right
to
the
administration's
presentation
and
then
we'll
go
straight
to
colleague
questions.
So
um
with
that,
I
think
we'll
start
with
we're
joined
here
today
by
emma
handy
who
is
the
city's
cfo
um
and
collector
treasurer
uh
justin
starrett,
uh
the
director
of
our
budget
office
um
and
drew
smith
who's.
Our
treasurer
handles
uh
all
thanks
all
the
money.
A
C
That
great
um
great
thank
you
everyone
uh
good
morning
or
good
afternoon
counselors.
Thank
you
for
having
us.
um
As
ever
mentioned,
my
name
is
justin
stern.
I'm
the
city's
budget
director,
I'm
gonna,
run
through
this
presentation
and
try
to
um
you
know
obviously
plenty
of
time
for
questions,
uh
uh
certainly
echo
all
of
um
counselor
box
comments
around
the
city
and
and
the
sort
of
challenges
that
we've
seen
and
the
uncertainty
uh
looking
forward
and
looking
forward
to
today's
conversation
about
uh
the
city
budget.
C
C
uh
As
you
all
know,
obviously,
covet
19
has
has
continued
to
uh
significantly
impact
the
city
and
continues
to
have
an
effect
to
this
day
and
we're
still
seeing
thousands
of
cases
uh
in
the
commonwealth,
hundreds
in
the
city
uh
and
and
despite
um
many
uh
uh
herculean
efforts
by
our
public
health
department
and
medical
community.
um
It
is
still
something
that
we
will
have
with
us
for
the
sort
of
foreseeable
future
until
widespread
vaccination
is
is
adopted.
C
So
what
that
means
on
a
city
perspective
is
that
the
public
health
measures
that
have
been
put
in
place,
whether
it's
around
restaurant
size
or
general
activity
in
the
city
that
has
continued
to
have
a
negative
effect
on
our
revenue.
Beyond
what
we
accounted
for
in
the
initial
budget,
the
counselor
touched
on
obviously
hotels
and
meals,
which
continue
to
be
sort
of
the
two
big
areas
of
the
budget
which
have
suffered.
C
Hotels
are
a
slightly
different
story
where
um
you
know
widespread
tourist
travel
and
widespread
uh
business
travel
for
things
like
conventions
and
other
forms
of
business
have
not
picked
up
and
have
not
returned
in
any
meaningful
way
and
likely
won't
until
um
not
only
vaccinations
are
complete
in
in
massachusetts
but
worldwide
as
well.
So
that
is
certainly
an
area
that
has
has
continued
to
show
weakness
and
will
continue
to
show
weakness
likely
into
into
the
foreseeable
future.
C
um
With
that
said,
we
did
have
um
you
know,
new
tools
that
were
given
to
us
and
and
thanks
to
city
council
for
passing,
some
of
those
back
in
march
and
april,
around
uh
federal
funding
related
to
fema
and
the
coronavirus
relief
fund,
which
we'll
spend
a
fair
amount
of
time
talking
about.
Today,
we
also
saw
you
know
really
strong
revenue
growth
in
both
the
property
tax
side
and
some
better
than
expected
returns
from
state
aid
thanks
to
our
partners
up
on
beacon
hill,
so
I'll
get
into
the
specifics
around
those
in
a
second.
C
uh
But
we
wanted
to
be
clear
and
concise
uh
with
the
council
and
the
public
that
the
budget
is
balanced
for
fy21
uh
and
we
do
feel
very
strongly
about
going
into
uh
the
rest
of
the
year.
We
had
implemented
several
new
fiscal
controls
with
the
help
of
the
city
council
at
the
beginning
of
the
count
at
the
beginning
of
the
fiscal
year
and
had
planned
on
extending
those
through
the
rest
of
the
year.
C
So
this
is
stuff
like
the
hiring
freeze,
suspending
non-essential
purchases
um
and-
and
the
like,
um
you
know,
going
uh
very
recently-
we've
sort
of
as
we've
continued
to
monitor
our
numbers,
um
and
we
are
confident
that
we're
going
to
end
the
year.
In
balance,
we
have
started
to
ease
some
of
those
fiscal
controls,
um
especially
around
the
higher
increase
understanding
that
there
are
a
lot
of
priorities
um
both
within
the
administration,
but
also
within
the
council
that
we're
funded
and
protected
in
the
fy
21
budget.
C
We
want
to
make
sure
that
those
are
up
and
running
um
to
support
the
services
and
that
residents
need
um
so,
as
I
mentioned,
um
you
know,
we
feel
obviously
very
strongly
about
the
uh
sort
of
balanced
nature
of
our
budget
and
as
part
of
our
tax
rate
setting
process
with
the
state
that
we
go
through
every
year,
with
the
help
of
obviously
drew
and
emma,
but
also
our
collecting
and
assessing
department.
um
We
recertified
that
the
budget
is
balanced
as
part
of
that
uh
that
process
with
the
state
within
that
process.
C
We
do
make
adjustments
to
some
of
our
assumptions
around
different
revenue
sources,
so
the
most
notably
and
we'll
talk
about
in
a
second
is.
Overall,
these
um
adjustments
ended
up
being
budget
neutral
and
and
resulting
in
a
balanced
budget.
So
we
were
fortunate
to
see
that,
um
on
the
on
the
positive
side,
we
saw
about
49
million
dollars
or
we're
projecting
about
49
million
dollars
worth
of
additional
property
taxes
on
top
of
uh
what
we
were
anticipating
as
part
of
the
adopted
fy
21
budget,
primarily
driven
by
new
growth.
C
Now
I
want
to
pause
for
for
one
quick
second
and
talk
a
little
bit
about
new
growth.
New
growth
is
a
backward-looking
revenue
source,
like
all
property
taxes
are,
and
they
look
at
taxes
effective
january
1st
of
the
previous
year,
so
for
fy21
we're
talking
about
um
2000
uh
january
1st
2020.,
so
we're
really
looking
at
calendar
year
2019.
C
C
It
also
doesn't
take
into
account
really
anything
that
happened
in
calendar
year,
2020
so
far,
so
that
is
both
the
any
expected
decline
in
economic
activity
related
to
development,
whether
it's
on
the
commercial
side
or
the
housing
side
caused
by
coven
19.
Nor
does
it
take
into
account
the
uh
construction
pause
implemented
by
the
mayor
back
in
um
march
may
march
march
through
may,
which
caused
construction
in
the
city.
C
um
So
that
was
good
news
on
the
on
the
property
tax
side.
In
addition
on
the
um
state
aid
side.
Obviously,
many
of
you
know
that
the
the
state
did
not
finalize
their
budget
until
late
into
calendar
year
2020
and
when
the
the
number
shook
out
after
after
that
was
complete,
we
ended
up
with
a
nine
million
dollar
increase
in
our
net
state
aid,
which
is
the
amount
of
funding
coming
back
to
support
uh
schools
and
government
services,
so
that
that
was
a
positive
on
the
negative
side.
C
We
we
did
see
and
we
are
projecting
about
a
57
million
decrease
in
anticipated
um
local
revenue.
So
these
are
things
like
excise
taxes,
like
we've
mentioned
uh
at
length
today,
as
well
as
departmental
revenue,
and
these
are
things
like
fines
and
permits
we're
just
seeing
less
economic
activity
in
the
city
and
less
you
know
less
less
people
in
the
city
coming
into
work.
C
um
So,
moving
on
beyond
the
the
sort
of
uh
the
21
budget
update,
we
wanted
to
spend
some
time
talking
about
the
coronavirus
relief
fund.
As
many
of
you
know,
the
city
being
in
a
population
over
500
000
was
eligible
to
apply
directly
to
the
federal
government
for
something
called
the
coronavirus
relief
fund,
which,
thanks
to
the
council,
we
accepted
back
in
march
of
uh
2020.
C
This
grant
for
121
million
dollars
had
very
specific
criteria
that
it
needed
to
be
used,
for
it
could
not
be
used
for
revenue
replacement.
It
could
not
be
used
for
non-covid
related
activities
and
there
was
an
original
um
deadline
of
uh
march
december
30
2020
uh
congress
um
did
not
give
us
any
more
money,
but
they
did
extend
the
time
frame
by
which
we
were
able
to
use
the
money
which
allowed
us
to
extend
some
programs
through
the
rest
of
this
fiscal
year
which,
which
we'll
talk
a
little
bit
more
about
um
you
know.
C
The
table
you
see
in
front
of
you
is
what
we
have
budgeted
for
each
of
the
different
categories
of
expenses
that
are
eligible
within
the
crf
grant
program,
and
I'm
going
to
talk
specifically
about
what
each
of
these
buckets
of
funding
were
spent
on.
You
will
see
we
do
have
a
very
small
amount
of
funding
left
over
that
we're
terming
emergency
funding.
This
is
funding
to
be
used
on
direct
covid,
related
expenses
that
um
are
likely
and
sort
of
uh
uh
almost
assured
to
pop
up
within
the
next
12
months.
C
um
Think
of
this
as
our
pot
of
money
that,
if
we
were
to
say,
have
to
stand
up
uh
the
boston,
hope
or
another
sort
of
emergency
type
program
depending
on
the
path
of
the
virus.
This
is
the
pot
of
money
that
we
would
be
utilizing,
and
it's
obviously
relatively
small
at
this
point,
so
definitely
something
to
keep
in
mind.
But
we
do
want
to
give
a
little
bit
of
a
retrospective
of
what
we've
spent
the
remainder
of
the
120
21
million
dollars
on
um
so
far
so
starting
with
um
city
expenses.
C
This
is
where
we
fund
food
delivery
and
service
programs
for
vulnerable
residents
through
our
office
of
food
access.
Our
aid
strong
commission,
our
office
of
immigrant
advancement
working
closely
with
them
and
local
food
food
pantries
to
um
stand
up
programs
for
vulnerable
residents.
That's
that's
where
this
funding
has
come
from
uh
personnel
and
staff,
responding
to
coven,
19,
cleaning
and
disinfecting
of
public
areas
and
city
facilities,
technology
assistance
to
uh
help
mitigate
the
covet
19
threats
both
from
a
city
perspective,
so
enabling
telework.
I
think
a
lot
of
credit
goes
to
the
city.
C
So
big
shout
out
to
our
operations
and
and
workforce
teams
who
have
um
really
you
know,
worked
seamlessly
through
this
process
to
make
sure
we're
still
providing
those
vital
city
services
that
residents
are
relying
on
and
then
finally,
public
health
and
medical
expenditures
outside
of
uh
what
I'll
talk
about
in
a
second,
which
is
the
grant
funding.
We
provided
directly
to
the
health
commission
for
things
like
boston,
hope
and
the
like.
C
So
moving
on
to
public
health
side
of
our
expenditures,
we
set
aside
about
20
million
dollars
directly
to
the
boston
public
health
commission,
and
this
is
funding
programs
like
uh
testing
and
contract
tracing.
So
you'll
see
that
the
you
know.
We
talk
a
lot
about
um
different
testing
that
we've
stood
up
either
through
or
in
partnership
with
our
community
health
centers,
but
as
well
as
the
mobile
testing
that
we're
doing
in
different
neighborhoods
throughout
the
year.
C
That's
where
this
funding
came
from
we're
also,
obviously
in
the
process
of
standing
up
and
staffing
vaccine
clinics,
both
the
big
ones
at
the
rcc
as
well.
As
um
you
know,
different
community
ones
will
be
standing
up
over
the
next
couple
months,
work
around
disease,
containment,
quarantining
and
isolating
for
affected
individuals,
communication
and
community
engagement
supports,
as
well
as
workforce
and
ppe
directly
for
the
boston
public
health
commission.
C
I
do
want
to
note
that
this
20
million
dollars
is
in
addition
to
their
100
million
operating
budget,
that
the
city
provides
as
well
as
direct
fema
funding.
That
bphc
is
pursuing
outside
of
the
the
20
million
that
they
have
here
in
the
tens
of
millions
of
dollars.
uh
Next,
we
have
the
boston
public
schools.
Obviously
this
is
um
you
know
the
biggest
part
of
our
budget,
so
it
obviously
represents
a
very
large
portion
of
our
um
of
our
crf
funding.
C
At
the
end
of
the
day,
we
provided
about
23
million
or
about
a
night
a
little
little
short
of
20
on
on
that
grant,
and
this
is
both
to
provide
sort
of
the
robust
at-home
learning
that
we've
provided
so
chromebooks.
Wi-Fi
technology
supports
for
staff
and
students,
as
well
as
additional
summer
sessions
at
targeted
at
learning
loss
and
then
a
considerable
amount
of
investment
in
facility
improvements,
both
in
ventilation
systems
and
windows,
and
making
sure
our
buildings
are
up
to
speed,
but
also
new
equipment
like
air,
purifiers
and
testers
uh
to
be
deployed.
C
I
do
also
want
to
note
again
that
this
is
in
addition
to
the
1.2
billion
annual
operating
budget,
that
the
city
provides
to
bps,
as
well
as,
in
addition
to
the
100
million
plus
federal
funding
that
is
going
directly
to
the
school
department
to
be
used
for
both
mitigating
covent
19,
but
as
well
as
preparing
for
uh
the
recovery
that
will
come
uh
post
coven
19..
So
this
is
all
in
addition
to
all
that
funding.
C
The
next
I
want
to
touch
on
very
quickly
is
economic
development.
You
know
the
city
has
been
fortunate
to
stand
up,
many
grant
programs
to
target
very
uh
hard-hit
businesses
in
boston
and
and
this
funding
about
23
million
dollars
or
about
20
of
the
grant,
went
directly
towards
um
standing
up
and
funding
those
programs.
C
A
certified
business
program,
which
has
provided
grants
directly
to
minority
and
women-owned
businesses
of
up
to
15
000
uh
art
grants.
Our
grants
is
certainly
an
area
that
we
focus
very
closely
with
the
executive
office
of
arts
and
culture
for
the
city
as
well
as
working
with
our
local
business
leaders.
They
are
disproportionately
being
hit
by
this
right
now,
given
that
many
of
them
cannot
be
in
person.
C
So
we're
able
to
stand
up
arts
grants
uh
an
art
grant
fund
um
to
support
over
140
artists
and
then
finally
direct
support
for
our
tourism
industry,
as
well
as
restaurants,
to
make
sure
that
you
know
when
it
is
safe
to
reopen
and
when
it
is
safe
to
have
people
back
to
boston.
We
are
ready,
and
I'm
able
to
do
so
with
tourism
and
restaurants
are
not
only
the
lifeblood
of
our
of
our
small
businesses
but
our
and
our
economy
here
in
boston.
C
C
That
was
opened
very
recently
uh
to
help
de-densify
some
of
our
homeless
shelters
and
get
folks
housed
during
this
process,
and
while
you
know
it's
a
relatively
small
portion,
12
million
or
10
percent
of
the
funds.
I
should
also
note
that
this
is
in
addition
to,
thanks
to
the
council's
support,
the
40
million
dollars
of
direct
funding.
That
dnd
has
also
received
to
support
housing
as
well
as
um
federal
and
state
programs
that
have
been
stood
up
around
rental
relief.
So
it's
a
it's.
A
Great,
thank
you
so
much
justin,
um
I'm
going
to
start
off
and
then
go
to
colleagues
and
just
so
colleagues
know
the
order
of
arrival
is
counselor
flynn,
braden,
o'malley,
campbell
wu,
mejia
arroyo
and
flaherty.
We
were
joined
right
at
the
start
of
the
presentation
by
councilor,
michael
flaherty
at
large,
um
so
that'll
be
the
order
and
I'll
just
start.
A
A
Right
and
and
how
much
of
that
obviously
we've
the
councils
voted
through
a
few
appropriations
of
that,
um
and
I
think
a
decent
amount's
been
used
for
rental
relief.
um
But
like
do
you
have
a
sense,
um
and
it's
fine
if
this
is
a
follow-up
after
but
kind
of
of
what
proportion
of
dnd's
funds
in
that
bucket
have
been
like,
committed
versus
are
kind
of
still
sitting
to
be
committed.
C
um
I'll
have
to
follow
up
with
you
on
the
specifics,
I
would
say
we
are
prioritizing
using
the
crf
first,
because
that
is
the
one
would
have
which
has
the
soonest
deadline
of
um
expiring,
so
that
expires
at
the
end
of
2021,
whereas
uh
cdbg
as
well
as
some
of
the
other
grants
to
schools
and
public
health
and
and
the
like,
have
longer
um
have
longer
time
frames
for
use.
uh
So
I'll
have
to
get
specifics
for
you
on
how
much
is
left
of
the
e49.
C
A
C
Yes,
uh
I
believe
in
total,
the
school's
department
has
received
about
120
million
dollars
of
federal
funding.
uh
20
million
was
in
the
original
bucket
back
in
20,
25
million
was
back
in
the
original
bucket,
um
which
has
been
used
for
for
school
efforts
this
year,
as
well
as
the
new
funding
that
came
in
at
the
end
of
december.
C
Yeah,
so
I
believe
the
time
frame
on
that
and
again
would
defer
to
the
school
department
um
is
about
two
or
three
years.
So
they'll
have
a
little
bit
of
a
runway
to
um
to
spend
that
on
both
you
know
getting
you
know
responding
directly
to
covet,
but
then
also
starting
to
plan,
for
um
what
an
equitable
recovery
looks
like.
How
do
we
deal
with
learning
loss?
A
Yeah,
no,
I
just
want
to
flag
that,
I
think
for
the
council.
Obviously
we
don't
have
um
sort
of
direct
uh
direct
power
over
that
money
in
the
same
way,
because
of
the
way
it
runs
through
the
school
committee,
but
um
but
I
think
it
will
be
important
as
we're
talking
about
the
school
budget
this
spring
to
be
talking
in
a
coordinated
way
in
concert
about
how
that
how
that
money's
going
to
address
that
need
because
it's
definitely
you
know
the
need,
that's
on
everybody's
lips
right
now.
We
all
see
it.
A
um
I
and
then
I
just
wondered
if
you
could
speak
a
little
bit
too,
and
I
know
you
know
we're
talking
right
now
about
birds
in
a
in
the
hand,
but
obviously
a
challenge
throughout
covid
has
been
not
getting
um
revenue
replacement,
support
at
the
federal
level
for
cities
and
states,
and
I
know
that
that
is
a
component
of
the
1.9
trillion
dollar
package
and
now
that
that's
actually
like
gone
through
on
both
sides.
Of
that
you
know
it
seems
like
a
more
going
concern.
C
Sure
I
I
I
I
echo
your
sentiment
around
um
uh
birds
in
the
hand
too.
In
the
bush
we
were
definitely
left
waiting
at
the
altar
I'll
use
a
different
expression
when
the
last
bill
came
through
and
that
actually
had
state
and
city
support
passed
through
both
the
house
and
the
senate,
and
it
fell
out
in
the
conference
committee.
um
But
with
that
said,
I
think
we
are
very
optimistic
thanks
to
the
biden,
administration,
baton,
harris
administration,
as
well
as
support
on
both
sides
of
congress
for
a
significant
new
round
of
funding
for
localities.
C
um
You
know
around
our
22
budget
process,
but
as
well
as
you
know,
how
do
we
build?
You
know,
build
an
equitable
recovery.
How
do
we
invest
in
the
areas
that
are
most
hardest
hit
right
now
and
that
type
of
funding
will
be
the
the
sort
of
linchpin
to
get
that
done?
We
are
still
you
know,
dealing
with
the
effects
of
covet
19.
A
A
um
So
in
terms
of
the
fema
funding,
I
understand
that
to
be
a
reimbursement
process
um
like
so
what's
tricky
about
that,
right
is
how
much,
on
the
one
hand,
I
think
there's
there
are
categories
that
the
white
house
has,
in
theory,
opened
up
to
100
reimbursement
now,
which
feels
like
the
sky
should
be.
The
limit,
um
on
the
other
hand,
obviously
like
if
we
do
something
and
then
wait
to
find
out
what
they're
going
to
reimburse
us
there's
some
real
exposure
there.
A
So
I'm
just
trying
to
understand
when
we
talk
about
fema
dollars,
it's
weird
we're
not
approving
any
appropriations.
It's
not
coming
to
us
as
a
grant
like
how.
How
should
we
think
about
like
is
that
that
we're
going
to
end
up
getting
25
million
from
fema
when
the
dust
settles?
Is
it
also
in
the
hundreds
of
millions
like
what
does
the
fema.
C
World
look
yeah,
it's
a
good
question
and
frankly,
I
think
there's
been
so
much
evolving
guidance
on
it,
both
coming
from
a
previous
administration
where
it
was,
um
it
wasn't
looked
at
as
the
sort
of
tool
that
everyone,
I
think
hoped
it
would
be,
um
whereas
I
think
with
the
buy
demonstration,
they
have
certainly
opened
it
up
for
100
reimbursement,
but
also
added
categories.
So
I
don't
think
it's.
um
I
don't
think
it's
in
the
hundreds
of
millions.
I
think
when
it's
all
said
and
done,
um
our
goal
is
going
to
be
to
maximize
fema.
C
C
So
we
are
working
closely
with
them
to
try
to
both
maximize
what
we
can
get
out
of
fema
as
well,
as
you
know,
make
sure
we're
documenting
everything.
It
is
a
much
more
uh
let's.
Let's
call
it
robust
process
of
reporting
with
fema
and
approvals
um
uh
outside
of
the
cares
act,
which
has
been
a
much
more
streamlined
and
much
more.
um
I
think,
honestly,
effective
tool,
because
it's
allowed
us
to
to
move
quickly
stand
up.
New
programs
be
responsive
to
what
the
needs
are
in
the
community.
A
Got
it
um
yeah,
it
would
be
good
to
get
just
get
some
understanding.
I
understand
it's
a
moving
target,
but
of
kind
of
what
we're
looking
at
since.
Obviously,
if
we
it's
a
big
delta
potentially
um
for
the
city
of
funding
available,
um
my
last
question
actually
for
drew
and
drew
not
to
put
you
on
the
spot
a
little
bit,
because
I
know
justin
was
the
presenter
today,
but
I
just
wonder
if
you
could
speak
a
little
bit
to
sort
of
you
know
when
people
thinking
about
the
public
and
counselors.
A
You
know
watching
this
when
people
see
the
kind
of
ups
and
downs
that
our
economy
has
been
through
over
the
last
year.
Thinking
about
the
impact
for
the
city
um
in
terms
of
like
you
know
both
that,
despite
the
fact
that
we're
in
this
recession,
we
continue
to
have
a
pretty
favorable
debt,
environment
and
kind
of
what
that's
meant
for
us
and
then
also
just
um
because
I
my
colleagues
know
like.
A
If
rarely
does
a
council
meeting
go
by
where
I
don't
suggest
that
we
do
more
capital
spending
and
encounters
like
as
a
counter-cyclical
tool,
um
but
uh
but
also
if
you
could
just
speak
a
little
bit
to
the
extent
to
which
the
city
is
exposed
um
to
the
changes
in
in
the
market
in
commodities
and
kind
of
like
where
we've
landed
with?
All
of
that,
like
what
the
city's
investment
um
situation
looks
like
just
so,
people
know
like
where,
where
we've
come
out
through
this
storm
so
far,
well,.
D
Our
investment
situation
is
uh
good.
uh
You
know,
certainly
what
we
have
invested
in
the
opeb
trust
uh
has
gone
positive
with
the
market.
I
think,
what's
more
important
than
just
market
returns
is
the
fact
that
we
do
fundamental
pep
trust.
Not
everyone
does
so
that's
important.
um
I
won't
really
speak
to
won't
be
able
to
speak
to
the
pension
situation.
That
would
be
a
different
area,
but
I
will
say
that
threading
agencies
um
understand
that
we
take
our
pension
obligation
very
seriously.
That's
something
that
finds
its
way
into
the
broader
market.
D
uh
So
from
generally
an
investment
perspective,
we're
doing
great.
Obviously,
when
we
talk
about
cash
investment,
we're
largely
at
the
mercy
of
the
market
and
where
money
market
rates
are
and
short-term
deposits
are
so
that
certainly
has
gone
down,
and
it's
something
that
we
continue
not
necessarily
to
try
to
beat
the
market.
We
just
try
to
get
a
good
market
rate
while
keeping
that
money
safe
and
we've
got
a
number
of
initiatives
built
in
there
that
um
I'm
certain
you've
all
heard
about.
D
A
D
Well
and
I'll
say
that
uh
you
know
the
the
low
rates
may
hurt
us
on
the
investment
side
or
not
hurt
us
but
may
take
away
from
us
on
the
investment
side.
But
when
we're
going
to
place
funds,
it's
one
of
the
reasons
that
we
were
able
to
offer
uh
or
achieve
the
lowest
true
interest
cost
of
any
offering
the
city's
experience
um
in
its
history.
At
one
point:
two:
three
percent,
so
you
know
those
are
savings
that
we'll
experience
over
the
next
20
years
as
we
continue
to
pay
those
bonds
off.
D
A
D
The
and
and
really
what
we're
going
to
do
with
uh
the
bond
transaction.
What
we're
planning
on
doing
so.
Traditionally,
we've
been
on
the
spring
schedule
where
we
go
out
with
a
new
money
offering
in
the
spring.
We
wanted
to
push
the
deal
back,
partly
because
of
the
pandemic.
It
had
a
lot
of
the
markets.
Frozen
aaa
deals
were
still
getting
done,
but
we
just
didn't
want
to
chance
it
and
we
didn't
have
to
so.
D
We
decided
to
delay
that
turned
out
to
be
good
from
programmatically,
because
we
are
most
likely
going
to
stay
on
a
fall
schedule.
So,
instead
of
going
back
to
the
market
every
spring,
we're
going
to
start
doing
the
fall
for
a
while
that'll
help,
diversify
some
of
our
debt
holdings
or
debt
issuances.
D
A
Got
it
great
well,
thank
you
so
much,
um
I'm
gonna
go
now
to
colleagues,
so
I
think
the
first
was
counselor
flynn,
councillor
flynn,
you
have
the
floor
and
I'll
do
my
usual
I'll,
keep
a
timer
and
uh
and
we'll
uh
reach
up
my
gavel
when
we're
when
we're
getting
there
and
then
let
the
timer
go
off
if
folks
really
uh
run
over.
So
just
because
I
know
we
do
have
a
lot
of
colleagues
on
the
line
and
I
want
to
move
through
people's
questions.
So
counselor
flynn.
E
Thank
you,
councilor
bark.
Thank
you,
emmer
justin
and
drew
for
the
important
work
you
and
your
team
are
doing
during
this
difficult
period.
I
know,
as
we
face
these
unprecedented
unprecedented
times
with
the
economy
economy
greatly
impacted
by
the
pandemic.
The
fiscal
health
of
our
city
is
extremely
critical,
as
we
need
to
ensure
that
our
residents
are
still
receiving
the
services
and
resources
they
need.
During
this
pandemic,
I
recently
hosted
a
sponsored.
A
a
hearing
with
residents
of
boston
was
cheered
by
council
buck
on
property
taxes.
E
E
B
I
can
take
a
stab
at
that
first
and
then
pass
it
to
justin.
um
Thank
you,
councilman
flynn,
for
the.
um
So
you
know
I'll
take
first,
the
the
point
about
property
taxes,
because
I
know
this
year
was
a
notable
year
for
residents
um
and
property
taxes.
um
The
dynamics
in
um
21
the
current
fiscal
year
are
were
really
about
a
five-year
revaluation,
that's
required
by
state
law.
B
uh
What
uh
what
factors
um
are
we
looking
at
for
property
taxes
and
sort
of
the
overall
stability
of
the
budget
in
21
and
22?
I
will
say
at
a
high
level
and
then
passage
justin,
that
um
you
know
for
many
years.
The
city
talked
about
our
concern
about
our
over
reliance
on
property
taxes,
and
I
do
think
you
know
uh
moving
into
the
future.
That
continues
to
be
something
that
we
should.
You
know
all
be.
B
um
I
think
concerned
about
and
and
interested
in
sort
of
are
there
dynamics
at
play
that
we
might
want
to
revisit
what
our
overall
revenue
mix
is.
um
That
being
said,
the
uh
the
70
plus
percent
of
our
budget,
that
is
relying
on
property
taxes,
has,
to
some
extent,
shielded
us
somewhat
from
the
um
vulnerability
that
other
major
cities
have
seen
in
their
tax
bases
and
therefore
you
know
layoffs
and
dramatic
budget
reductions
that
they've
had
to
to
implement
mid-year
to
adjust
for
the
covid
revenue
dynamics.
B
C
um
The
only
thing
I
would
add,
and
just
to
jump
on
your
your
comment
around
the
capital
side,
counselor
and-
and
you
know
we
working
closely
with
the
council-
you
know
through
last
year's
budget
process
that
became
a
top
priority
to
protect
and
and
frankly,
it's
it's
paying
dividends
right
now.
We
are
not
only
on
pace
to
have
the
most
spending
on
the
capital
side
in
any
single
fiscal
year.
C
E
B
um
Counselor,
I
think
you
know,
certainly
you
can
look
at
what
other
major
cities
have
for
tax
bases.
um
You
know,
as
I
mentioned,
we
really
are
relying
on
property
taxes.
Other
cities,
have
you
know
portions
of
income
tax.
They
have
a
you
know
a
penny
of
the
sales
tax
or
uh
whatever
it
may
be.
Some
places
have
things
like
you
know:
alcohol
taxes
or
soda
taxes,
or
things
like
that.
Those
are
all
things
that
you
know.
Certainly,
other
major
cities
have
adopted
to
enhance
their
revenue
streams.
B
All
of
those
things
require
the
same
type
of
process
for
us,
which
includes
you
know,
state
house
approval.
Unfortunately,
we
cannot
unilaterally,
through
mayoral
and
council
partnership
and
act,
those
things
but
they're,
certainly
worthy
of
a
conversation
and
and
consideration,
um
despite
the
fact
that
they
do
have.
You
know
a
procedural
process
that
that
we're
required
to
go
through
to
advance
them.
E
F
Thank
you,
madam
chair.
um
I
had
a
question
with
regard
to
our
pilot
payments.
I
I
you
know
we
all
understand.
It's
been
a
really
tremendous
upheaval
in
our,
uh
especially
in
our
education
sector,
with
our
universities,
um
and
you
know,
since
this
um
public
health
crisis
has
been
going
on
now
since
january
of
2020,
um
I'm
just
curious
to
know
how
um
the
pilot
payments
are
coming
in
and
if
we
are
meeting
the
the
expected
targets
that
we
uh
had
uh
yeah
the
expected
target.
That's
the
question.
Thank
you.
C
I'll
answer
uh
the
math
side
and
then
uh
emma
drew
feel
free
to
jump
in.
um
I
think
when
we
we
looked
at
the
end
of
uh
fiscal
year,
20,
which
was
the
end
of
the
last
uh
sort
of
the
most
recent
data
we
have
from
a
final
perspective.
We
came
in
pretty
close
to
what
we
were
expecting.
There's
two
types
of
pilots.
C
As
you
all
know,
the
pilots
that
we
get
from
our
voluntary
contributions
from
um
our
meds,
our
ed's
and
our
non-profit
institutions,
is
one
bucket,
and
the
other
bucket
of
pilot
is
what
we
get
from
the
state
and
massport
for
um
uh
their
property
that
they
own
in
the
city.
um
The
state
and
massport
portion
came
in
on
target
the
uh
ed's,
the
the
other
portion
of
the
pilot
with
our
our
institutions
um
came
in
slightly
below
where
we
were,
but
for
the
uh
the
most
part
most
of
them
um
uh
contributed
at
similar
levels.
C
G
Thank
you,
madam
chair,
um
and
thank
you
so
much
to
the
administration
for
all
of
you
of
what
you've
been
doing
over
the
last
year
and
today's
presentation.
Of
course
um
I
want
you
mentioned
this
in
a
couple
places
already,
but
could
you
just
dive
into
the
um
staffing
and
sort
of
municipal
workforce
uh
projections
over
the
next
two
upcoming
fiscal
years
and
and
what
that
looks
like
I
know
um
I
had.
I
think
justin
had
said
earlier
in
the
initial
presentation
that
you're
taking
off
um
hiring
freezes.
G
C
Sure
I'll
um
I'll
do
the
the
budgeted
staffing
to
date
and
then
I'll
I'll
either
turn
it
over
to
emma
to
think
uh
broader
around
the
future.
So
to
date,
in
the
budget
um
we
added
about
200
positions
in
this
last
fy
21
budget.
Obviously
the
hiring
freeze
and
covet
has
affected
the
pace
of
filling
those
positions
both
within
the
city
but
then
also
the
school
department,
um
but
from
a
budgeting
perspective
we're
up
about
200
230.
I
think
positions
between
21,
I'm
sorry
between
20
and
21.
C
I
think
looking
forward,
um
there's
going
to
be
certainly
needs
and
demands
that
I
think
are
going
to
require
certain
staffing
in
uh
increases
in
certain
areas.
Schools
comes
to
mind.
Obviously
you
know
public
health
comes
to
mind.
I
think
that
that's
going
to
be
part
of
the
sort
of
deliberative
process
we
go
through
as
we
build
the
22
budget
and
beyond,
but
I
can
certainly
see
demands
for
those.
I
would
say
from
a
sourcing
perspective,
it's
going
to
come
down
to
the
federal
relief
that
comes
through.
We
are.
C
We
are
sort
of
not
out
of
the
woods
from
a
financial
point
of
view
when
we
start
to
think
about
22
and
beyond,
and
and
federal
relief
is
going
to
be
vital
to
not
only
sort
of
shoring
up
our
budget
going
forward,
but
also
making
the
type
of
investments
that
I
think
everyone
wants
um
and
from
a
staffing
perspective.
So
I
think
that
that
those
two
unknowns
and
those
two
um
you
know
forward-looking
ideas-
are
really
going
to
be
dictated
by
what
we
get
from
the
federal
government.
B
Yeah,
thank
you
counselor
for
the
question.
um
I
would
just
add
you
know
in
terms
of
fy
22,
we
are
still
um
sort
of
working
with
departments
to
understand
what
their
sort
of
aspirational
or
investment
needs
are
for
the
next
fiscal
year
and
those
would
include
the
types
of
things
that
are,
you
know,
sort
of
head
count
or
personnel
responsive
to
the
new
reality
that
we're
living
in.
I
think
to
justin's
point.
B
We
need
to
do
a
little
work
internally
to
figure
out
what
the
right
source
is
to
fund
something
like
that
right,
because
we're
trying
to
figure
out
how
to
sort
of
afford
things
within
the
envelope
of
the
sort
of
perennial
city
budget
and
balance
the
the
federal
resources
that
are
intended
to
help
us
um
both
you
know,
sort
of
answer
uh
the
need
for
covet
and
also
recover
from
covet
as
a
city.
um
The
only
other
thing
I
would
add
is
just
that
you
know.
B
Obviously,
our
general
approach
to
head
count
over
the
years
has
been
very
targeted.
We
don't
typically
add
a
whole
lot
of
head
count:
sort
of
across
the
board
um
in
city
departments.
um
In
past
years,
where
we
have
have
added
headcount,
it
has
been
one
of
sort
of
the
signature
investments
of
of
um
each
budget.
B
I
think
that's
still
true
in
terms
of
how
we
would
make
these
decisions
moving
into
22
and
beyond,
because
we'd
be
looking
for
sort
of.
How
does
this
head
count
help
you
respond
to
the
moment,
um
so
nothing
about
sort
of
our
decision-making
would
change,
although
of
course
everything
has
changed
about
what
you
know
the
city
is
doing
and
how
we're
doing
it,
um
and
so
I
think
that
will
that
will
filter
into
sort
of
what
the
investments
are
that
we
present
to
you
when
we
come
um
in
april.
G
B
B
So
I
will
say
right:
um
we
did
just
loosen
um
some
of
the
hiring
freezes,
and
that
was
really
because
we
got
this
additional
extension
of
cares.
So
it
does.
It
does
go
hand
in
hand
with
the
federal
resources
in
terms
of
our
ability
to
be
flexible
and
nimble.
I
think
it
would
have
been
a
tougher
fiscal
year
to
land
in
21
if
we
didn't
have
an
additional
um
flexibility
to
apply.
Some
of
that
cares
funding
through
this
calendar
year,
and
so
you
know
we
have
we
are.
B
We
anticipate
that
we
will
have
moderate
revenue
growth
next
year
because
of
again
our
sort
of
what
the
what
the
um
dynamics
are
at
play
in
terms
of
what
our
revenue
base
is.
We
don't
know
exactly
what
that's
going
to
look
like,
yet
we're
still
waiting
for
information
in
part
from
the
state
on
some
of
the
excise
taxes,
and
things
like
that.
So
there
are
a
number
of
mitigating
factors
I
think
it
is.
It
has
been
a
priority
to
maintain
head
count
and
not
have
to
pursue
layoffs,
and
I
think
that
will
continue
to
be.
B
You
know
our
general
approach.
Obviously
we
have
to
make
the
the
numbers
balance
and
so,
to
the
extent
that
we
um
that
we
do
not
receive
new
federal
resources,
which
again,
I
hope,
is
unlikely
at
this
point,
but
or
that
something
dramatically
shifts
around
excise
taxes.
Every
time
we've
reforecasted
these
we've
reforecasted
a
period
in
which
we
think
things
are
going
to
start
to
get
better
and
unfortunately,
every
time
we've
done
that
we've
had
to
push
that
date
out
because
it's
been
longer
than
we
had
anticipated
at
the
time.
B
So
um
those
those
things
exactly,
as
you
said,
cancer
federal
aid.
You
know
uh
the
sort
of
accuracy
of
our
projections
as
we
try
to
look
into
a
crystal
ball
that
nobody
knows.
The
answer
to
um
are
the
things
that
um
we
would
sort
of
have
to
contingency
plan,
for
if
they
did
not
um
end
up
coming
true,
but
again,
I
think
maintaining
the
city's
workforce,
particularly
given
how
essential
the
workforce
has
been
in
terms
of
response
to
our
residents
in
covid
is,
is
absolutely
a
priority
of
ours.
G
Okay
and
then
um
do
I
have
questions
time
for
half
a
question
more.
Madam
chair
yeah:
yes,
okay,
so
just
thinking,
I
know
my
time
limit,
um
just
thinking
about
the
shift
from
emergency
relief
to
kind
of
getting
in
some
ways
back
to
the
rhythms
of
basic
city
services,
which
I
know
have
been
ongoing
this
whole
time,
but
as
more
people
are
out
and
about
as
there's
more
foot
traffic
again
and
trash
pickup
and
and
this
and
that
and
small
businesses
needing
direct
attention.
You
know
um
the
numbers
and
the
flux.
How?
G
B
Yeah,
that's
a
great
question.
I
mean,
depending
on
the
department
and
the
type
of
work,
we're
sort
of
at
different
points
in
and
where
the
workforce
is.
Most
of
our
sort
of
direct
service
departments
um
uh
are
largely
back
to
sort
of
the
work
shift,
realities
that
that
they
had
before
covid,
obviously
with
social
distancing
and
ppe
and
lots
of
um
coveted
safety
protocols
in
place,
there's
all
sorts
of
things
around
spacing
and
vehicles,
and
things
like
that
that
we've
adopted
um
at
the
beginning
of
the
pandemic.
B
We
had
done
a
lot
of
things
like
split
shifts
and
just
sort
of
in
general,
trying
to
space
people
out,
and
we
have
largely
moved
backwards
into
sort
of
full
full
implementation
really
of
um
uh
you
know
how
people
were
sort
of
operating
beforehand
again
with
all
the
protocols
in
place
for
safety.
um
I
do
think
there
are
some
exceptions
to
that.
B
So
we
are,
you
know,
just
now,
starting
to
talk
about
occupancy
levels
as
they
start.
You
know
the
state
starts
to
conceptualize
increasing
those
again
what
that
will
look
like
for
our
office
buildings
and
things
like
that,
but
it's
all
tied
together
with
vaccine
rollout
and-
and
you
know
everything
else-
that
I
think
is
it
sort
of
hangs
together
in
terms
of
our
thinking.
So
I
don't
have
a
great
answer
for
you
on.
B
H
Thank
you
so
much
uh
just
kind
of
picking
up
on
some
of
councillor
wu's
questions
there
about
the
hiring.
I
know
that
there
was
that
release
that
we
actually
added
jobs
this
year.
uh
I
believe,
uh
mr
starter,
you
cited
the
number
was,
or
they
did,
but
either
was
like
somewhere
around
300
jobs.
Got
added.
Is
that
about
accurate.
H
C
H
C
H
H
Do
we
know
if
we're,
for
instance,
and
here's,
why
I'm
asking?
If
we're
in
a
position
where
we
have
to
sort
of
look
at
jobs
and
look
at
where
we're
making
cuts
is
it
is?
Are
we
able
to
kind
of
move
in
a
way
in
fiscal
year,
2021
where
we
lessen
the
burden
in
2022,
or
is
this
a
situation
where
we
don't
have
enough
of
a
grasp
on
what
those
numbers
would
look
like
in
2022?
So
we
just
have
to
work
with
what
we
have
right
now.
C
Yeah,
it's
a
it's
a
really
good
question
um
the
interesting
thing
when
you
think
about
22
right,
the
the
budget's
going
to
go
up
right
property
taxes,
you
know,
are
slated
to
rise
as
they
as
they
have
every
year
for
30
years
I
mean
I,
I
go
back
to
councillor's
question
when
we
start
seeing
those
restaurants
with
activity.
Not
only
is
that
great
for
those
businesses,
but
that's
good
for
the
city's
coffers
as
well,
so
the
more
we
can
encourage
economic
activity
with.
C
That
said,
though,
you
know,
our
pension
is
going
to
go
up
based
on
the
pension
schedule,
which
is
about
eight
percent.
Our
debt
service
is
going
to
go
up
to
support
the
capital
plan,
which
is
you
know,
five
or
six
percent.
Something
like
that.
That's
more
percentage-wise
than
the
rest
of
the
the
revenue
that
is
coming
in
will
probably
grow,
so
there
will
be
trade-offs
and
there
will
be
um
you
know.
Certainly
you
know
bell
tightening
and
we
are
instructing
departments
to
look
for
efficiencies
and
look
for
savings.
H
C
We'll
have
you
know
the
thing
with
uh
the
thing
that's
different
about
this,
this
sort
of
recession
and
this
sort
of
economic
downturn
is
it's.
Unlike
anything
else
right,
it's
it's
all
based
on
public
health
changes,
so
you
know,
I
think,
we'll
have
a
good
sense
of
what
the
new
normal
quote-unquote
new
normal
is
based
on
on
covet,
but
certainly
by
may,
and
certainly
with
the
22
budget.
B
Was
just
gonna
have
that
I
think
your
question's
a
great
one,
and
you
know
the
thing
that's
sort
of
behind
it-
is
that
um
so
much
basically,
what
we
spend
money
on
as
a
city
government
is
the
are
these
basic
city
services,
and
that
is
head
count
right.
How
we
provide
basic
city
services
is
through
city
employees
and
so
um
to
justin's
point
around.
You
know:
sort
of
um
increase
pressure
on
uh
our
fixed
responsibilities
and
long-term
planning
things
like
oped
and
pension
that
we
need
to
pay
for.
B
um
Unfortunately,
right
the
the
sort
of
spending
side
of
the
equation
um
is
really
the
department's
delivered
through
employees
and
our
employees
have
been
incredible
through
covet
19.
They
have
um
showed
up
for
our
city
residents
and
our
city
businesses
in
an
amazing
way,
and
that's
part
of
the
reason
why?
B
um
Because
we've
needed
them
so
badly
um
that
that
we've
really
done
all
that
we
can
through
tightening-
and
I
think
justin's
team
has
really
looked
at
every
bucket-
that
they
could
to
find
the
savings
so
that
it
didn't
affect
our
employees
and
the
work
that
they
do
on
behalf
of
our
our
residents
and
and
our
businesses.
So,
um
but
that,
at
the
end
of
the
day,
that
is
kind
of
our
budget
right
is
city
employees,
and
so
that
is
where,
where
um
the
spending
goes.
H
I
would
agree
with
that.
I
just
I.
I
would
also
add
that
my
my
larger
concern
is
even
as
we're
cutting
these
things,
we're
going
to
be
looking
at
a
school
budget
uh
where
we've
had.
This
is
an
unprecedented
situation
for
our
students
for
our
teachers.
um
I
have
to
imagine
that
there's
a
number
of
resources
we're
gonna
have
to
invest
in
that
we
just
have
never
invested
in
before
in
the
investments
that
we've
made
in
the
past.
H
We
should
be
stepping
up
uh
greatly
and
I'm
not
sure
we
have
the
resources
to
do
those
those
things
and
so
do
we
know
either
through
the
state
or
through
cares
or
through
some
legislation
that
may
be
discussed
at
the
federal
level
or
pending
or
anything
like
that.
What
what
we're
looking
at
for
a
school
budget,
because
I
my
concern-
was
we
essentially
passed?
What
worked
out
to
be
the
exact
same
school
budget
pre-coveted
as
we
did
post
coven,
and
I
just
don't
think
we
can
do
that
this
year?
H
I
think
we
need
to
make
real
investments
in
a
real
way
higher
than
we
normally
do,
and
so,
knowing
that
are
there
any
other
resources
that
we're
looking
at
whether
it's
state
which
I'm
I
don't
know,
what's
there,
I'm
frankly,
not
sure
anything.
Is
there
uh
federal
government
or
anything
where
we
can
actually
get
get
some
more
resources
without
having
to
take
from
our
actual
city
works.
Our
city
departments
that
aren't
bps
related.
C
As
two
former
state
budget
people
we're
happy
to
go
up
to
beacon
hill
with
you
to
ask
for
more
money,
anytime
counselor
um
with
that
said,
I
mean,
I
think
uh
the
school
committee
or
superintendent
presented
her
budget
to
the
school
committee
last
week
uh
and-
and
I
think
we're
proud-
and
I
think
frankly,
it's
it's
pretty
historic.
You
know
obviously
working
with
the
council
that
we're
able
to
functionally
support
a
increased
level
of
funding
for
the
school
department,
both
both
in
21,
like
you
mentioned,
but
also
22.
C
You
know,
in
line
with
the
the
mayor's
mayor,
walsh's
commitment,
around
100
million
dollars
over
three
years,
we're
probably
the
only
school
school
in
the
country,
who's
increasing
their
own
local
revenue
or
the
only
major
school
school
district
in
the
country.
Who's
doing
that,
and
I
think
that
that's
a
testament
to
you
know
a
lot
of
the
work
uh
that
we've
done
sort
of
collectively
to
tighten
our
belts
and
prioritize
those
investments.
C
With
that
said,
I
I
could
not
agree
more,
that
new
resources
are
going
to
be
needed
and
new
resources
are
going
to
be
needed
now.
Basically,
you
know
as
we're
sort
of
getting
closer,
and
I
think
that
that's
going
to
be
a
little
bit
dependent
on
you
know
what
what
bps
has
received
already
through
the
federal
government.
C
You
know
I
mentioned
at
the
beginning
about
119
million
120
million
dollars
in
new
funding
that
that
we
can
program,
but
then
also
who
do
we
advocate
for
how
do
we
advocate
for
additional
resources
to
do
a
multi-year
planning?
The
the
the
big
secret
with
era
money
back
in
2009
was
that
it
provided
a
whole
bunch
of
new
money
for
for
for
cities
and
towns
and
the
state,
but
then
it
went
away.
So
how
do
we
sort
of
build
a
structure
going
forward
that
in
three
or
four
years,
when
the
cares
money
goes
away?
C
H
A
C
Yeah
a
great
question:
um
we
haven't
sort
of
the
biggest
fixed
costs
at
bps.
Much
like
it
is
at
the
city
is
headcount
and
you
know
we're
entering
a
a
place
where
we
had
a
settled
contract
for
fy21,
where
we
do
not
have
a
subtle
contract
for
fy22.
So
much
of
those
additional
increases,
if
there
are
any,
would
sort
of
need
to
be
worked
out
through
the
collective
bargaining
process
and-
and
that
um
uh
is
not
settled
yet.
A
A
C
Yeah,
it's
a
really
good
question
I'll.
Take
the
the
investment
side.
First,
I
think
throughout
the
even
the
hiring
freeze,
the
hiring
freeze
was
for
non-sort
of
non-vital
public
health
related
positions.
There
were
a
bunch
of
investments,
especially
through
the
vphc,
the
school
department
and
city
hall
that
were
that
are
vital
new
positions.
So
we
did
move
those
forward
as
part
of
the
hiring
process.
I
think
you're
right.
There
are
certainly
some
positions
that
were
frozen
um
that
were
new
or
existing
positions.
C
That
now
that
the
freeze
has
been
um
has
been
lessened
has
been
softened,
um
we'll
we'll
sort
of
begin
in
earnest
the
process
of
recruiting
and
hiring.
I
think
one
of
the
biggest
areas
that
is
going
to
dictate
how
quickly
we'll
get
back
to
what
I'll
call
full
employment
for
the
city
is
the
really
the
public
health
side.
Some
some
departments
don't
necessarily
need
as
many
people,
because
they're
serving
um
less
people
because
of
the
pandemic.
C
So
we're
really
going
to
try
to
sort
of
stagger
filling
those
positions
as
the
demands
for
those
services
return
right.
A
great
example
is
if
a
pool
is
closed
because
of
covet
19.
We
don't
necessarily
need
to
hire
that
lifeguard.
Today
we
can
hire
that
lifeguard
sort
of
a
month
in
advance
of
when
we
need
that
pool.
Is
that
pool
is
going
to
sort
of
safely
reopen.
A
And
were
those
those
savings?
I'm
just
thinking
about
the
fact
that
we,
you
know
in
the
numbers.
You
threw
up
right
revenue
side
we
sort
of
netted
out,
even
because
we
we
lost
the
57
million
in
excises
and
department,
fines
and
fees,
but
we
gained
it
on
the
state
aid
and
an
unexpected
property
tax,
especially
new
growth
side.
um
But
I'm
just
wondering
if
obviously,
we
put
in
the
modified
budget
in
june,
we
put
into
place
the
like
hiring
freeze
expectation
for
the
first
half
of
the
year
as
a
way
to
help
control
costs.
A
C
Yeah,
I
would
say,
for
the
most
part,
we
we've
sort
of
fully
realized
the
six
months
of
savings
that
we
had
in
place,
so
those
are
kind
of
baked
into
departmental
budgets
already
by
just
having
less
money
in
them.
Any
additional
savings
that
you
know.
Maybe
a
person
here
or
person
there,
that'll
sort
of
uh
help
offset
which,
which
has
been
a
historic
and
and
um
uh
big
thanks,
goes
out
to
the
public
works
department.
C
It's
been
a
really
snowy
last
couple
weeks,
so
you
know
we
may
be
looking
at
a
snow
budget
that
might
be
slightly
out
of
balance.
You
know-
or
we
might
be,
you
know
in
excess
of
what
we
appropriated.
So
those
types
of
savings
will
help
mitigate
those
sort
of
um
unanticipated
costs
that
we
have
in
the
budget.
Right
now,.
A
And
um
and
how
much
we
haven't?
Really,
you
alluded
to
it,
but
I
don't
think
we've
really
focused
on
it.
Just
the
fact
that
I
wondered
if
you
could
speak
a
little
bit
to
the
change
in
the
timing
on
the
excise
side
from
the
state
and
then
also
to
emma's
point
about
how
we've
had
to
revise
our
expectations
of
what
we're
getting
there
downwards.
A
few
times
like.
What's
the
what's
the
potential
swing
for
us
sure.
C
um
So
uh
I'll
take
I'll
do
two
seconds
of
background.
So
as
part
of
the
excise
tax
process
with
the
state,
they
passed
a
law
that
allowed
businesses,
uh
hotels
and
me
and
restaurants
to
uh
hold
back
on
sending
their
excise
tax
payments
to
the
state
which
then
ultimately
come
back
to
the
city
for
one
year,
so
that
basically
delayed
it
from
march
of
2020
to
april
of
2021.
C
C
What
we
think
a
sort
of
new
normal
is,
as
I
mentioned
before,
going
into
22.,
so
that
will
help,
I
think,
with
our
projections
into
next
into
next
fiscal
year.
We
revise
down
our
projections
in
the
excise
tax
process,
as
I'm
sorry
in
the
tax
rate
setting
process
for
excise
taxes,
because
even
the
returns
we
were
getting,
you
know
for
the
months
of
june
through
december,
were
less
than
what
we
projected
when
we
uh
submitted
the
adopted
budget
back
in
june.
A
Yeah
but
there's
no
way
for
us
to
get
visibility
on
it
sooner.
I
just
ask
because,
like
the
I
mean
it's
what
you're
describing
sounds
to
me
like
a
situation
in
which,
if
we're
scrambling
we'll
be
scrambling,
you
know
in
the
midst
of
revising
the
fy
22
budget
like
it'll,
be
well
after
the
introduction
of
it.
C
So
I
I
think,
we're
probably
in
our
in
our
adjustments
to
the
tax
rate
where
we
we
took
about
of
that
40
of
that
49
million
I
mentioned
um
about.
44
million
came
directly
from
a
reduction
to
excise
taxes.
I
think
that's
about
as
low
and
I
think
we
feel
in
our
office
uh
working
with
our
revenue
director,
moore's
iran.
C
um
She,
I
think
we
feel
very
strongly
that
that's
about
as
low
as
we
can
get,
and
I
think
we
only
have
upside
going
forward
into
22
um
with
that
said,
you
know,
as
I
mentioned,
to
counselor
arroyo,
there
will
be
a
risk
factor
anytime.
We
have
revenue,
especially
whether
the
the
impact
is
so
dramatic.
As
a
public
health,
you
know
emergency
shutdown
or
emergency
restriction
that
we
we
simply
can't
predict
going
into
22.
A
um
Okay,
well
thanks
no,
I
mean
obviously,
obviously
as
long
as
we're
conservative
about
it.
That's
one
one
way
of
protecting
ourselves:
um
it's
just
a
frustrating
situation.
Do
we
think
that
the
state
is
going
to
persist
in
this
into
the
next
fiscal
year
or
do
we
think
we'll
go
back
to
the
old
system.
A
Months,
um
I
I
just
if
counselors
any
counselors
with
further
follow-up
questions
can
raise
blue
hands.
um
Otherwise
I
think
we're
coming
towards
the
end.
I
wanted
to
just
make
a
couple
of
remarks
about
kind
of
like
going
forward,
um
so
uh
one
thing
is
just
you
know.
Obviously
it's
been
important
to
us
as
the
council
to
give
um
the
administration
the
power
to
act
quickly
and
efficiently
and
use
the
care's
money
right.
A
A
You
know
there's
just
a
lot
and
then
you've
got
who
knows
200
300
400.
If
this
1.9
trillion
dollar
package
passes-
um
and
I
think
to
exactly
the
point
that
you
raised
justin
like
like,
we
need
to
be
thinking
about
how
we're
building
it
in
in
ways
that
support
the
current
crisis
and
then
are
also
like
sustainable,
and
it
can't
be
that,
like
the
council's
looking
at
you
know,
what's
a
like
looking
at
the
budget,
that's
out
of
the
general
fund
and
not
looking
at
these
major
other
components.
um
So
I
just.
A
I
really
want
to
stress
that.
I
think
this
needs
to
be
an
ongoing
part
of
our
conversation
this
spring
as
we
talk
about
the
budget
um
and
that
the
and
then,
as
we
get
more
clarity
on
the
fema
side,
we
need
to
understand
that
too,
um
because
they're,
just
you
know,
I
mean
even
the
commercial
rental
relief
fund.
I
know
like
that
was
a
pretty
recent,
fairly
late-breaking
kind
of
development.
A
A
I
guess
that
is
a
question
for
me
like
are
we
gonna
have
another
round
of
the
commercial
rental
relief
and
sort
of,
um
I
think,
we've
gotten
more
uh
dnd
is
the
department
where
we've
gotten
the
most
detail
on
how
they're
spending
their
cares
money
along
the
way
and
we've
done
that
through
a
series
of
council
hearings,
um
but
it's
it.
That
is
a
concern
of
mine.
Sorry
I'll
pause
there,
because
there
is
a
question
in
that.
C
So
I
I
think
from
uh
uh
happy
to
to
provide
any
information
the
council
is
looking
for.
I
think
the
the
expectation
for
my
my
view
is
that
all
that
money
that
we've
sort
of
talked
about
through
the
crf
that'll
be
spent
by
the
end
of
this
year,
if
it
hasn't
been
spent
already
right,
we've
been
at
this
for
nine
months
now
with
this
funding
and
it
and
a
lot
of
it's
been
spent
either
in
other
places,
it
needs
to
be
moved
over.
So
my
expectations,
that's
all
fully
spent.
C
The
the
small
bucket
of
of
money
left
over
for
emergencies
is,
is
sort
of
paltry
compared
to
what
how
much
we've
spent
over
the
last
year
right.
So
if,
if
and
when
that
federal
money
doesn't
come
or
if
and
when
you
know,
uh
we
look
at,
you
know
an
fy22
budget
that
is
not
as
rosy
as
um
as
recent
years
have
been,
and
we
don't
have
that
federal
money.
Those
services
are
going
to
need
to
be
provided
right.
C
I'm
thinking
of
you
know,
ppe,
that's
going
to
be
something
that's
with
us
for
probably
ever,
but
at
least
the
next
year.
um
That's
a
that's,
been
a
big
source
that
has
been
the
crf
and
if
that
doesn't
exist
or
the
crf2
doesn't
exist
um
in
some
fashion,
we're
still
going
to
need
to
buy
the
ppe
and
it's
going
to
have
to
come
from
somewhere
else.
A
F
B
I'll
just
address
the
last
question:
I'll
leave
the
hard
question
for
justin.
um
It's
absolutely
a
reasonable
question.
The
contract
is
really
about
just
obviously
changes
to
the
existing.
um
You
know
sort
of
underlying
contract
uh
or
contracts.
I
should
say,
since
there
are
four
of
them,
um
and
so
so
right.
While
I
know
we've
talked
a
lot
about
the
contracts
ability
to
help
us
address
or
not
um
some
of
these
overtime
issues.
B
um
It
doesn't
uh
because
we
don't
have
a
settled
contract
now
it
doesn't
um
necessarily
impact
anything
aside
from
you
know,
to
the
extent
that
we
were
able
to
get
reforms
that
we
all
have
talked
about,
that
may
into
the
future,
help
us
achieve
some
savings,
um
but
you
know
given
the
fact
that
it's
not
settled
now.
It
certainly
wouldn't
help
us
achieve
any
retro
savings,
um
because
obviously
those
things
you
know
sort
of
need
to
go
into
effect
in
order
to
to
achieve
them.
C
Good
question
and
happy
to
chat,
I
think
it's
two,
it's
twofold
one.
We
are
constantly
working
with
the
police
department
to
analyze
and
understand
their
budget.
It
is
a
daily
thing.
It
is
a.
It
is
an
ever-changing
thing
and
it
has
been
very
affected:
um
bpd
bfd,
ems
they're
on
the
front
lines
of
responding
to
coca-19
every
single
day.
C
So
there
are
certain
um
expenses
that
you
know
are
going
to
happen
regardless
are
going
to
happen
regardless
are
going
to
continue
regardless
because
of
the
response
to
covet
19
and
and
and
that's
certainly
something
that
from
a
public
safety
and
public
health
point
of
view
are
going
to
have
to
continue
to
be
funded
from
a
management
perspective
from
an
overtime
perspective.
We
continue
to
work
with
them
to
find
efficiencies
to
uh
to
to
hit
their
number.
We
will
uh
obviously
be
you
know,
working
with
them
the
rest
of
the
year.
C
That
was
certainly
not
something
that
we
forecasted
when
we
built
the
21
budget,
so
that
is
going
to
be
part
of
the
conversation
going
forward
or
what
were
those
events
and,
frankly,
long-standing,
and
you
know
unprecedented
events
that
that
had
to
be
paid
for,
or
had
to
be,
you
know
deployed
and
and
how
does
that
fit
with
the
rest
of
that
their
budget?
I
think
that's
something
we're
going
to
continue
to
work
with
them
on
and
we'll
continue
to
work
with
them
on
going
forward.
F
And
in
terms
of
the
um
best
teams,
and-
and
they
they
were-
they
were
paid
for
the
new
increased
personnel
for
the
best
teams
were
paid
for
out
of
the
21
budget.
um
Are
there
any
any
anticipated
additions
to
those
those
personnel?
Are?
We
are
we
sort
of
in
a
static
state,
those
um
the
mental
health
professionals
who
are
going
to
correspond
with
officers.
C
um
But
both
the
best
clinicians
and
the
the
the
bph
trauma
team
uh
teams
that
were
supported
as
part
of
that
uh
uh
12
million
reallocation
were
excluded
from
the
hiring
freeze.
So
are
we
able
to
move
forward?
I
don't
have
the
the
numbers
in
front
of
me,
but
our
expectations
that
will
that
level
of
support
for
both
the
best
clinicians
and
the
neighborhood
trauma
teams
will
sort
of
be
part
of
our
baseline,
going
forward
into
into
22
and
beyond.
A
A
um
You
know
bump
in
the
property
tax
in
the
year
that
we
were
also
experiencing
the
record
record
decline
in
excise
tax
and
that
they're
balancing
out
is
a
piece
of
good
fortune
today,
um
and
and
also
just
that,
you
know
the
fact
that
we're
in
this
position
of
really
strong
fiscal
stewardship,
where
we're
able
to
make
those
bond
offerings
and
we
can
actually
have
a
robust
capital
budget
and
and
do
these
counter-cyclical
things
I
mean.
I
just.
A
I
think
it's
worth
noting
in
the
midst
of
a
real
challenge
um
that
we're
in
a
that
we're
in
an
uh
a
hard.
um
But
uh
I
don't
know
what
the
word
I'm
looking
for
is
sort
of
like
um
as
prepared
as
you
can
be
for
something
that
you
can't
be
prepared
for
kind
of
position.
So
just
want
to
thank
you
all
um
for
that
work
and
uh
counselor
braden
your
hands
back
up.
A
um
So
yeah
thank
you
to
the
team
and
and
like
I
said
I
I
just
really
want
to
make
sure
on
the
council
side.
It
doesn't
seem
to
me
like
we're,
going
to
be
able
to
talk
about
the
city
budget
without
talking
about
these
other
funds
that
are
coming
in
from
the
federal
side,
and
I
don't
want
the
technicality
of
kind
of
um
of
source
to
put
us
in
a
position
where
we're
having
two-thirds
of
the
conversation.
A
Just
in
terms
of
our
role
in
fiscal
oversight
um
and
to
and
to
counselor
braden's
point,
uh
we
will
definitely
have
another
of
our
um
uh
oversight:
hearings
on
the
police,
overtime
budget
prior
to
the
fy
22
budget,
conversation
um
so
uh
more
on
that
front.
But
I
want
to
turn
now
to
uh
to
pam
poker
from
the
boston
municipal
research
bureau
who's
here
with
us
to
give
public
testimony.
Pam.
I
I
um
So
I
wanted
to
pick
up
on
a
number
of
things
that
um
the
counselors
have
asked
about,
and
um
cfo
emma
handy
and
budget
director
justin
starrett
have
emphasized
um
so
they've
all
done
the
numbers.
I
want
to
just
emphasize
a
couple
of
dynamics.
um
I
just
want
to
note.
First
of
all,
the
city
did
come
into
the
pandemic:
very
strong
fiscally
um
from
an
unprecedented
economic
boom
um
to
this
unpredictable,
unprecedented
community
challenge
presented
by
the
public
health
issues
of
coven
19..
I
We
are
also
concerned
as
the
research
bureau
about
the
multi-year
impact
potential
of
covid,
particularly
on
members
of
our
community,
already
challenged
by
housing
issues,
employment
and
other
foundational
pieces
of
being
able
to
sustain
their
work,
their
home
life
their
and
be
part
of
a
community.
um
So
we're
particularly
attentive
right
now
to
um
the
importance
and
need
for
the
city
and
the
community
to
be
responsive
to
um
folks
that
are
already
challenged
and
particularly
challenged
under
the
current
situation.
I
So
one
of
our
questions,
of
course,
as
you've
already
mentioned,
is
will
cares.
Funding
continue
for
as
long
as
needed
to
help
us
through
the
impact
of
covid19
as
budget
director
justin
starrett
mentioned.
There's
concern
about
drop-off
in
federal
support,
as
we
experienced
during
the
great
recession
of
2009.
I
I
Folks
would
tend
to
go
back
to
school
when
employment
was
more
harder
to
find
and
what
we've
seen
this
time
around
is
clearly.
Our
higher
education
sector
in
boston
has
been
just
as
challenged
in
this
particular
situation
because
of
the
nature
of
it
being
a
public
health
crisis
as
institutions
that
would
in
sectors
that
would
normally
be
challenged
in
an
economic
crisis.
I
I
also
wanted
to
talk
a
little
bit
quickly
um
about
something
that
we
can't
not
mention
here.
Potential
impact
on
the
city
of
the
shift
to
remote
work,
particularly
its
impact
on
commercial
real
estate,
both
in
terms
of
the
value
of
existing
real
estate
and
whether
projects
in
the
development
pipeline
or
even
projects
that
have
simply
been
permitted,
will
actually
be
able
to
go
forward
if
they're
already
started
get
to
completion
or
if
they
haven't
been
started.
Will
those
projects
in
fact
come
online?
I
New
growth
from
additional
new
development
in
the
city
or
renovations
to
a
current?
um
Both
residential
and
business
property
in
the
city
have
been
a
huge
benefit
to
the
city's
financial
situation
for
a
number
of
years
now,
since
the
great
recession,
so
the
possibility
that
that
source
might
be
challenged
in
the
coming
years.
I
think
is
something
that
we
do
want
to
pay
attention
to
very
much,
and
we
appreciate
that
for
fiscal
21,
it
looks
like
the
city
has
budgeted
relatively
conservatively
um
and
not
assumed
another
huge
windfall
from
development
activity
in
the
city.
I
I
I
It's
another
reason
why,
coming
into
this
unexpected,
unprecedented
covitt
19
crisis
um
that
the
city
was
in
is
in
relatively
good
shape
to
handle
this
particularly
compared
to
other
cities,
and
I
want
to
echo
what
um
chair
bach
mentioned
about
that
um
we
are
seeing.
Boston
is
reasonably
well
positioned.
Coming
into
this.
We
do
need
to,
as
I
have
just
mentioned,
on
a
number
of
different
areas.
We
do
need
to
really
continue
to
be
very
focused
on.
I
I
A
um
I
definitely
think
yeah,
I
think
we're
in
a,
um
as
I
just
said,
a
comparatively
strong
position,
but
with
a
lot
of
um
a
lot
of
aspects
to
watch
and
a
really
and
and
a
really
daunting
challenge,
like
you
know,
economically
and
in
terms
of
on
the
human
side,
you
know
for
how
to
come
back
from
this.
So
um
thank
you
and
uh
thank
you
again
uh
to
um
emma
handy
rcfo,
justin
starred,
our
budget
director
and
drew
smith
our
treasurer
for
being
with
us
today.