Boston City Council Hears Hours of Testimony Demanding BPS Budget Restored

BOSTON — March 24, 2026 — Boston City Council's Ways and Means Committee drew an overflow crowd Tuesday to take public testimony on the proposed FY27 BPS operating budget, with speakers demanding a one-percent increase in city funding to prevent layoffs across the district. Committee Chair Benjamin J. Weber opened the session alongside Councillors Julia M. Mejia, Enrique J. Pepén, Miniard Culpepper, Ruthzee Louijeune, John FitzGerald, and Henry Santana; Council President Liz Breadon was absent. Testifiers cited cuts to bilingual teachers, school librarians, paraprofessionals, and counselors, with parent coordinator Dora Sandoval highlighting that the Blackstone school — with a 92 percent Black and Latino student population — faces a 12 percent staffing reduction next year. Parent Michelle Mwallum alleged BPS posted final school budgets before the March 18 public hearing but had not updated the data since March 11, charging the process "undermines confidence." Mejia told the crowd, "Y'all are only asking for one percent of that BPS budget — y'all should be asking for more."