WORCESTER, MA—The FY2018 budget for Worcester was announced last week, with City Manager Edward Augustus recommending a tax levy appropriation of $632,201,552.
"The FY18 budget creates the opportunity to make strategic investments in our priorities–education, infrastructure, and neighborhood improvements–all while staying true to our updated long-term financial plan," writes Augustus in the introduction to the budget recommendation. "Over the past three years, we have expanded economic development and increased vitality in our great and growing City, and we have to continue that momentum. This budget invests in the future of our youth by starting to fund the construction of two brand new high schools, adds innovative public safety programs, focuses on cleaning up our neighborhoods and parks, and identifies solutions to important issues identified by the City Council and the residents of Worcester to improve the livability of our neighborhoods.
Overall, the city’s budget increases $13.8M, or 2.24 percent. More than $11M of that increase is being allocated to the Worcester Public Schools, based on state funding that increased by $9.9M combined with City funding that exceeds the required minimum by $1.75M, said the announcement.
