Mayor Sarno Announces Fiscal Year 2026 Budget

– 11^th Consecutive Budget Balanced without use of Stabilization Reserves –

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and Chief Administrative and Financial Officer (CAFO) Cathy Buono announced today the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) budget recommendation that will be submitted to the City Council for approval.  The recommended FY26 budget totals $985.7 million, which represents a 6.1% increase over the FY25 adopted budget.

The School Department, which accounts for more than two-thirds of the total operating budget ($670M), increased 6.8% overall. The city‐side budget is $315.7M, a with an increase of 4.7% from FY25.

In a testament to Springfield's commitment to strong fiscal discipline, the FY26 budget was balanced, for the eleventh consecutive year, without the use of stabilization reserve funds. Currently, city reserves equal $71.7M with a goal to grow this number by transferring free cash to reserves each fiscal year. Saving our stabilization reserves for future years will allow the City to navigate potential unknowns and economic shifts, and sends a strong message that we remain devoted to continued financial sustainability during these shifting times.

Mayor Sarno states, “I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all of our Cabinet & Department Heads for their efforts in working to craft budgets that maintain the same level of services for our constituents, while also managing budget growth where we can. Overall, departmental “other than personal services,” or “OTPS” budgets, are level funded in FY26. This could not have been accomplished without the cooperation and careful planning by our Cabinet & Department Heads.”

“In addition, for the first time since FY13, we have had a decline in our full-time equivalent (FTE) employee count. With no layoffs, my administration, alongside department heads, have continued to manage FTE growth during FY25, and have made adjustments where possible to rosters in order to eliminate or reduce vacancies. Rest assured, the overall decrease of nearly 14 FTEs will not affect services or programming for our residents. It is just another way that we have been able to manage costs within our control. This fiscal prudence is necessary now more than ever, as we continue to face economic uncertainty, and ever-growing non-discretionary costs”, explained Mayor Sarno.

The Mayor continued, “Given the economic uncertainty and the risk of federal grant cuts, we have taken a cautious approach in our planning and budgeting efforts, and my administration remains steadfast in its efforts to ensure the dedicated residents, businesses, and visitors of our great city continue to receive the core services they deserve. To that end, this year, we have decided to dip into the Pension Reserve fund which was established in FY16. With pension costs rising 9% or $5.5M from FY25, we have decided to use $2M of the $19.4M balance to offset pension increases for the FY26 budget. This is not a decision that has been made lightly, however we do believe now is the right time to use this funding source to help balance our budget.”

To continue providing for the people of Springfield, the FY26 Recommended Budget maintains and supports all current programming, and places a continued emphasis on public safety, public education, economic development, healthy neighborhoods, and community services. Mayor Sarno and his administration are committed to producing a budget that continues to fund and maintain services and personnel. Outlined below are some of the investments, services and programs included in the FY26 budget.

Public Safety

Public Safety continues to be a top priority of my administration. It is critical that we provide the necessary resources to keep crime down and make all those who live or visit Springfield feel safe. As such, we will continue to invest in the latest and greatest technology and equipment for all of our first responders.

Police Department

The Springfield Police Department (SPD) recently welcomed 45 new Police Officers who graduated from the academy on May 1, 2025, with another academy expected to begin in the fall. The Police Department expects a total of 429 officers; bringing the total complement to 514 sworn personnel and an overall staff of 603 FTEs. This level of staffing will help address departmental attrition brought on by upcoming mandatory retirements, and allow the department to focus on quality-of-life issues by supporting and enhancing neighborhood initiatives, such as the C3 policing units and the Ordinance Flex Squad. In FY25, the City negotiated new collective bargaining agreements with the Springfield Police Supervisors Association and the International Brotherhood of Police Officers. Both contracts are in effect through FY28 and the wage increases are reflected in the FY26 budget.

In FY25 the Police Department made significant strides toward the successful implementation of its new body-worn camera and taser program. As the first city in the Commonwealth to employ this technology across its entire police force, the SPD is able to increase transparency and accountability while improving the safety of both officers and residents alike. Funding will be maintained for staff, led by a Police Lieutenant, to administer the program and ensure that the department is able to review and respond to requests for footage in an efficient manner.

The Springfield Police Department will also continue to maintain funding for other ongoing initiatives. This includes the Gaming Enforcement Unit at MGM, the C3 metro unit, which increases police presence along Main St. and other neighborhoods; the Ordinance Flex Squad, Quebec Unit for the School Department, Metro Policing Unit in Downtown Springfield, and the City's expanded Real Time Crime Analysis program.

We have continued investments in unique Police Department programs for our officers and our community. We will be maintaining our Co-Response Program in collaboration with Behavioral Health Network. This program authorizes licensed behavioral health clinicians to respond at the same time as police officers to emergency calls involving mental health crises to de-escalate situations in real time and provide for better follow-up and jail diversion outcomes over the long-term. The Police Department will also be continuing the Peer-to-Peer program established in FY21, which   provides critical support to officers who have potentially experienced trauma due to critical incident response. Additionally, the department is building upon the foundation of Project HOPE (Homeless Outreach Provider Engagement), which began in January 2015. The Springfield Police Department has partnered with BHN to continuing efforts through Project HOPE 2.0. The program engages homeless individuals, providing support by connecting them to services and housing. In 2025, the project is expanding to also place a BHN clinician in the Springfield District Court. This clinician will engage homeless individuals coming through the court for misdemeanor charges such as trespass and public intoxication, with the goal of connecting those individuals to treatment, services, and housing.

Lastly, funding is included to maintain the department’s NARCAN program which has now been in place for the last six (6) years. This program equips officers the necessary tool to immediately address instances of drug overdoses, and is used to quickly reverse the effects of a life-threatening opioid emergency. Springfield Police Officers have administered approximately 600 life-saving doses of this medication.

Fire Department

The Springfield Fire Department (SFD) will also be hiring new recruits to stay ahead of attrition. The department is proactively looking to manage attrition with plans to run at least two (2) academies in the Summer and Spring of FY26. Recruits continue to be sent to the state-run academy program, which has been successful in graduating new firefighters to begin immediately working in the stations.

The SFD's budget includes continued funding to replace, proactively, equipment such as firefighter turnout gear and SCBA air bottles, both of which are critical to ensuring the safety of our first responders. The new air bottles, which align with NFPA standards, hold an additional 15 minutes of air capacity, giving firefighters more time to handle fires without interruption. The department will also continue to deploy its health and wellness program, which aims at promoting the physical and mental health of first responders while reducing instances of on-the-job injuries. Lastly, the budget funds all contractual lease payments for fire apparatus', which the SFD has been replacing each year since FY16 to retire units at their end of their useful life and drive down the need for costly repairs.

Emergency Communications/Dispatch

The Springfield Emergency Communications (Dispatch) Department, which closely collaborates with the Police and Fire Departments, has also been provided with funding for several ongoing initiatives. The new Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) and Records Management Systems (RMS) project continues, will improve working systems for all public safety employees while also helping to ensure the safety of our community. We are excited to see the significant difference it will provide in aiding our community as we continue into FY26.

The consolidation of Police and Fire dispatch services at a single location on Roosevelt Avenue, which was finalized in January 2021, has been a tremendous help in maximizing operational efficiency. The move has significantly enhanced cross-training efforts, while also ensuring ample supervisory coverage to address issues and provide feedback to call takers in real time.

Providing our citizens with the resources they need to capitalize on the services the City offers is vital, which is why in FY26 we’ve continued funding for increased outreach efforts to the community. These education initiatives will teach individuals the proper use of 9-1-1, and available resources such as text- to-911 and Smart 911. The FY26 budget also maintains funding for all maintenance, equipment and software needed to manage daily operations in a highly efficient way.

Cybersecurity

The Richard E. Neal Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (CCE) is a state-of-the-art cybersecurity training and education facility located in the historic Union Station Building. The center opened in FY25, and  will support municipalities, school department IT divisions, small and large area businesses, college and university partners, military bases, utility companies and it will provide robust STEM cybersecurity programs for K-12 students and adult learners. The CCE will serve as a dynamic hub for advancing cybersecurity awareness, education, innovation and battling global security threats.

Public Education

The School Department (SPS), under the leadership of Superintendent Dr. Sonia E. Dinnall, works tirelessly with teachers and administrators to ensure a safe and quality learning experience for all our students, expanding across more than 50 different schools. Despite lingering challenges from remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, the School Department rose to the occasion and not only kept students engaged, but also continued to improve graduation rates and decrease the number of students who drop out. The district's dropout rate was just 3.9% in 2023, representing an 60% decrease since 2012. This represents the highest dropout rate decreases in all of Massachusetts during the same timeframe. Additionally, the SPS 2023 graduation rate has reached 85%, which is an impressive 45% increase since 2012.

As a municipality, we are thrilled to continue offering the first full-day Pre-K program of its kind in the Commonwealth. For years, the City has invested funds in early education programming through the school department’s budget, and we plan to continue that trend. In FY24 we added an additional 17 preschool classrooms across the district to meet the demand that we have seen throughout the City. The full-day program is invaluable for the growth of our youngest citizens, and will allow caregivers to return to the workforce and provide for their families. We are excited to continue this program in FY26 and witness the transformative effect this program will have on our children and residents.

In collaboration with the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA), my administration has invested over $750M into building new schools and rehabilitating and renovating existing schools, the most in Massachusetts. This includes the new state-of-the-art Brightwood-Lincoln School in the North End and the DeBerry-Swan School in our Old Hill and Upper Hill neighborhoods. Brightwood-Lincoln was awarded the official LEED Gold certificate for its design, construction and operation of high- performance for energy efficiency.

In FY26, we’re also going to continue to study the eligibility and feasibility of rebuilding or replacing German Gerena Community School. This project would bring a new state-of-the-art school for students, teachers, and residents in the North End. This project will bring the total amount invested into building new schools and renovating existing ones throughout the city to over $1B — the highest level of investment across the Commonwealth.

Economic Development

Since the devastating tornado hit Springfield in 2011, significant economic development efforts have helped strengthen the community through the creation of many new jobs, the development of more market rate housing, and a nearly $1B casino offering residents and visitors countless entertainment options to enjoy for years to come.

While we have accomplished a lot, there is much more to be done to make Springfield a leader in economic prosperity. To that end, efforts to create the “Main Street and Convention Center Overlay District” continue to be underway. Designed to enhance development surrounding the MGM casino and MassMutual Center, the district will bring exciting new prospects to the area including market- rate housing, restaurants & bars, entertainment venues and ground-floor retail, including the construction of a new Civic Center Garage by the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority which just opened this Spring.

Over the past few years, Springfield has experienced over $5 billion in new development, beginning with major projects like MGM Springfield, CRRC Railways, and Union Station, and continuing today with significant public and private investments such as the MassMutual Center  expansion,  Court Square Park renovation, the 31 Elm apartments, and the ongoing Eastfield Mall redevelopment. Additional investments include housing developments like the Gemini Townhomes and Knox building transformation, the $31 million Performance Food Group expansion creating hundreds of jobs, and upcoming projects including Brightwood School apartments, the York Street riverfront site, and the long-anticipated  new Courthouse.

In FY24, we also saw the opening of Big Y Supermarket’s downtown express location in the Tower Square Complex, bringing an additional grocery option to what has been long viewed as a food desert area for residents. Since opening, Big Y has seen great success.

Homeownership is key to building home equity for residents, which is why my administration will continue to support our very successful First-Time Homebuyers program through our Office of  Housing. We currently have 500 new units of multifamily housing in the pipeline, with an additional 40 for-sale affordable town homes in the city’s South End.

Healthy Neighborhoods

Springfield continues to place emphasis on ensuring healthy neighborhoods across the city, with the goal of providing residents the highest possible quality of life. Highlighted below are the following initiatives that have seen great success in the past, and will be continued in FY26.

Code Enforcement

Funding for a full complement of administrative and inspectional personnel positions is allocated for both the Building and Housing Code Enforcement Divisions. This helps to ensure healthy neighborhoods and safe buildings throughout Springfield. Funding is also included for the continuation of the Mayor's “Clean City” program. The FY26 budget also provides funding for OpenGov, an enhanced software package that will allow for the permitting process to be fully accessible to the    public online, including the ability to submit payments electronically. This relieves a significant burden to both the public and departmental staff, saving time and maximizing efficiency be eliminating the need to acquire permits in person. Excitingly, the design of this system will allow for other City departments to  join the platform.

DPW

Single Stream Recycling, Trash, Bulk Pick Up and Yard Waste. Continued funding for municipal trash and single stream recycling pickup, while also ensuring adherence to the new state requirements for bulk items, and maintaining an affordable bulk sticker cost for residents. In addition, DPW will collect residential yard waste on recycling pickup days. Residents can also drop off their yard and leaf waste at the Bondi Island facility at no charge.

Sidewalk Crew

Continued funding for the popular Sidewalk Crew, now entering its eighth year of operation. This crew has been highly successful thus far in addressing citywide sidewalk repairs and ensuring a high quality of life for residents in all neighborhoods of Springfield.

Safe Streets and Roads for All

Continued rollout of the Safe Streets and Roads for All safety upgrades to the most dangerous intersections in the City, stretching along 10 corridors and 15 intersections. These improvements are designed to increase vehicular, pedestrian, and bicyclist safety through the implementation of bump outs, protected crosswalks, upgraded pedestrian signals, and improved lighting.

Community Services

Parks & Recreation

In FY23 we began the Clean Sweep Initiative in combination with ROCA in Western Massachusetts. ROCA is dedicating two five-member teams to respond to quality-of-life calls placed through the City’s 311 Call Center by residents to address litter throughout the City. FY24 was the first year the program was fully funded to complement our existing Clean City Initiative that was already in place to assist in responding to litter and trash concerns across Springfield. Based on the great success we’ve had this year, we are looking forward to continue funding this program in FY26.

Beginning in FY22 and continuing during FY26, in an effort to brighten the City's neighborhoods, the Parks Department will work aggressively to remove tree stumps throughout Springfield. Removing these stumps is not only aesthetically pleasing to the eye, it will also create more space for residents to use after the areas are reseeded and grass is grown.

Funding will also continue for the Downtown Crew, which maintains the downtown metro area parks including DaVinci Park, Emerson Wright, Riverfront Park, Court Square, Stearns Square, and Pynchon Plaza and all neighborhood parks. This maintenance will also be provided for the 20 City terraces.

Camp STAR Angelina will be fully open again for FY26. Pools and splash pads will be available for families to enjoy during the summer. Additionally, all recreational programs and activities will be up and running in FY26, including the After School & Evening Gym programs, the Summer Concert Series, and "Movies in the Park." These programs play a significant role in bringing the Springfield community together.

Since FY22, the Springfield Public Schools have been able to use ESSR funding toward capital improvement projects. A total of $185.8M has been used toward HVAC upgrades throughout the schools, upgraded data network, and a virtual school relocation.

Also, $2.1M of ESSR funding was used to fund the construction a new athletic field at Putnam High School. The City collaborated with school officials and the project design team at GZA to develop a field design that now provides a high-quality practice space, which features state-of-the-art turf, a scoreboard, small seating areas, and advanced lighting and control systems, allowing the school sports teams to practice and prepare for games at a high school level.

In FY25, work was completed at Duggan Field, where a new state-of-the-art athletic field was built and rededicated to former Springfield Trade (Putnam) Coach Ted Plumb; the development provides accessible and inclusive recreation elements including track and spectator amenities, basketball courts, fitness course, a baseball/softball diamond, an outdoor classroom, community gardens, and trails. The FY26 budget will also fund continued maintenance & upgrades to our existing playing fields.

The City is also proud to have completed the Central High School Athletic Field upgrade in FY24, marking another successful investment in athletic infrastructure. The project provides the Central High School community and student athletes with two new state-of-the-art synthetic turf fields, which will accommodate baseball and softball. The new field’s area provides a significant benefit to the school community, a reduced maintenance burden, and provides accessible walkways for spectators to enjoy the games.

We are completing the transformation of Greenleaf Park, including an accessible playground, splash pads, and trails. This project will highlight green infrastructure design to mitigate heat island affects and increase our resiliency with tree planting, pollinator gardens, bioswales, nature-based stormwater treatment solutions, and culvert replacements.

Lastly, improvements are being made to Gurdon Bill Park, now renamed “Gurdon Bill Bike and Skate Park.” By adding biking and skating elements to the park, youth and adults alike will now have the opportunity to engage in these fun activities. A splash pad will also be added, which is very popular among our kids.

In FY26, Springfield Police Department and Hampden County Sheriff's Crews will continue with the unique and innovative partnership to enhance public safety within our beloved Forest Park. Dedicated patrols will be led by the SPD’s motorized Trikke Defenders and the HCSC Mounted Patrol Unit of horses and will also include the Emotional Support Division of therapy dogs. Together, we look forward to another great season for residents and visitors in Forest Park.

Health & Human Services (HHS)

In FY26, we strategically invested in HHS, expanding the capacity of our Division of Environmental Health which protects the public health and environment of the City of Springfield through education, inspections, sampling and monitoring, and enforcing federal, state, and local codes as they pertain to public health issues. We will be continuing these investments in FY26 along with our outreach efforts through additional mailings and two additional Community Health Workers.

Opioid settlement funds totaling $7.2M over the next 16 years will go towards a wide variety of initiatives and programs that will enhance and expand the City's opioid response, and create systems      in partnership with Springfield's Police, Fire and Health Departments, local nonprofits, health organizations and community stakeholders. Funding will also continue for our Cannabis Compliance Program, the Office of Problem Gambling and Prevention, and Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response.

Elder Affairs

This department will continue to fund popular programs such as chair yoga, Tai Chi, dance, pickle ball, computer learning, crafting and field trips. We are excited to again be in a position to safely provide lunches to our seniors and welcome them to our centers across the community.  This program has been fully funded to continue in FY26.

The Transportation Coordinator position added in FY23 will continue to be funded in the new fiscal year to transport our senior citizens and plan a number of trips for them according to their interests. This provides exciting opportunities for our seniors that they may not otherwise been able to access.

All sites and programs for our seniors are fully open, including Riverview, Hungry Hill, the Clodo Concepcion Community Center, the Fitness Center and the Raymond A. Jordan Senior Center. This past year we were able to completely renovate the fitness area in the North End Senior Center, outfitting it with brand new state-of-the-art senior-friendly fitness equipment. We are excited to be able to offer fitness programming, in addition to activities such as bingo, trivia, exercise programs, concerts and wellness checks. These programs will continue to operate in FY26.

Veteran’s Services

This department will continue to fully fund services to our Veterans. The addition of newer staff in recent years has allowed this department to serve veterans more efficiently, through proper case management efforts. In FY25, we successfully placed 17 unhoused veterans into permanent housing. In FY26, we will continue to fund the initiative to end veteran homelessness through collaboration and partnership with various organizations.

Libraries

I am excited to be able to continue the successful investments we made in our library system in FY25, including the increased hours at the East Forest Park location. Investments in our libraries are investments in the education of our youth and all citizens of Springfield. This new initiative added two additional mornings to the East Forest Park Library schedule, along with one additional evening.

In FY25, The East Springfield Library branch was awarded a grant from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) to expand its facilities, and is currently undergoing the planning and design phase. Through this exciting project, we will continue to enhance the level of library services offered to our residents.

In addition, we have continued funding for our Community Rooms at the East Forest Park Library and the Mason Square Library to be available for meetings for residents 4 nights per week. This expansion of services has allowed more groups to access the space, providing a safe space to meet and engage with other members of the community.

I am extremely proud of the fact that while other communities have consolidated their local libraries, my administration has not only kept our neighborhood library sites open but we have expanded their hours of operations, programs offered, and even built a new library and will be renovating more branches too.

In FY22, a 1-year grant-funded hotspot lending initiative was launched, allowing residents to borrow portable hotspots from Springfield libraries allowing free internet and Wi-Fi access from a personal computer, tablet, or smartphone for up to 14 days per use. Due to the success of this initiative, these hotspots will continue to be funded in FY26 through the City's general fund.

The City will continue to fund the Read/Write/Now adult literacy program also continued support and funding for all Springfield neighborhood branches.

Thomas J. O’Connor Animal Control and Adoption Center

The TJO Center continues to offer vital animal control services for Springfield and the communities of Holyoke and Chicopee, as well as providing adoption services that try to find new and happy homes for animals in need of a forever home. TJO significantly expanded its community presence, deepening their role as a trusted resource and advocate for animal welfare. Through increased outreach, educational initiatives, and strengthened partnerships with local organizations, TJO continues to build meaningful connections with residents while reinforcing its commitment to compassionate and responsive service. In FY26 we have continued funding for the Adoption Center, and for animal control purposes, to keep both the residents and pets of our City safe.

We successfully secured a new three (3) year agreement with the Cities of Chicopee and Holyoke reaffirming our strong partnership and mutual commitment to resource sharing and cost-effective service delivery. This renewed agreement not only strengthens intermunicipal collaboration, but also provides Springfield with greater budget stability, allowing us to better manage the rising costs associated with daily operations and service demands.

Fiscal Responsibility

In April 2025, Standard & Poor’s (S&P) reaffirmed the City’s AA- bond rating, with a stable outlook. This continues to be the highest rating in the City’s history, steadily improving from its  A-  rating twelve years ago. This credit rating review focuses on the City’s strong institutional core by highlighting Springfield’s “management with ‘strong’ financial policies and practices, strong budgetary performance, and strong budgetary flexibility.” These rating improvements demonstrate  how well the City has recovered since the last economic downturn, and our commitment to fiscal sustainability.

The City has maintained the highest bond rating in its history, largely due to our commitment to fiscal excellence and not spending our reserves. We continue to aggressively address our unfunded pension liability in an effort enhance our financial stability, appropriating $73M contribution towards pension liability; an 9.2% increase over FY25.

Our finance team received the "Distinguished Budget Award” from the Government Finance Officers Association for the eighteenth year in a row, and was also awarded the "Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting" for issuance of our Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the thirteenth consecutive year.

The budget honors all contractual obligations including collective bargaining agreements, and all

agreements as necessary for the School Department, including the food service contract.

The FY26 budget was balanced funding all core services and personnel while continuously maintaining reserves to support the City's financial health to guard against future unknowns.

Mayor Sarno concludes, “As Mayor, I will work tirelessly to ensure that Springfield continues to prosper and remains resilient in the wake of any challenge, no matter how difficult. My administration has been tested many times in the face of adversity and continues to rise to the occasion for the betterment of our city and the community that we love. I am proud of the efforts by the entire Springfield team: Superintendent Dr. Dinnall, Cabinet Heads, Department Heads, and City Staff who work hard for Springfield every day.”