Cambridge City Council Adopts $939 Million General Fund Budget for Fiscal Year 2025

CAMBRIDGE — June 3, 2024 — Cambridge City Council unanimously adopted a nearly $940 million general fund budget for fiscal year 2025, along with seven loan orders totaling more than $51 million. The 9-0 vote on the $939,336,875 general fund came alongside approval of a $38,432,720 public investment fund budget and a $16,247,475 water fund budget. Finance Committee Co-Chairs Councilor Patricia Nolan and Councilor Paul Pickett both cautioned that annual budget increases of eight to nine percent are unsustainable, and noted the public investment fund had been trimmed from a projected $90 million to roughly $38 million. The council also approved a $15 million loan order for a new fire station headquarters and four Planning Board appointments, while adopting a policy order demanding justification for sharp youth center fee increases — one family described a jump from $9 to $170 per month — with the city's Department of Human Services director promising a formal response and possible phase-in plan the following week. Nolan flagged that the budget adoption "wasn't really communicated very well to the public," calling for clearer agenda notices in future years.