Brookline will ask the state legislature to allow the town to enact a real estate transfer fee, after Town Meeting voted this week in favor of a home rule petition. The vote aligns with growing statewide momentum for such a policy, which would place a new one-time tax on the sale of property, to be… Continue reading Town Meeting calls on state legislature to allow real estate transfer fee
Category: Budget
How Brookline library leaders plan to navigate federal funding cuts
Among the many executive orders signed by President Trump to reduce government spending was one to end federal funding for the Institute of Museum and Library Services, or IMLS. Supporters of the Public Library of Brookline are bracing themselves for the repercussions. Yet their concern is tempered by the strength of local support for Brookline’s… Continue reading How Brookline library leaders plan to navigate federal funding cuts
Town Meeting bans sale of foie gras in Brookline, amends zoning bylaws for disability accommodations
During the first week of its annual spring session, Town Meeting passed a ban on selling foie gras and made changes to the process for residents with disabilities to add home accommodations. On Wednesday, the town’s legislative body approved a controversial by-law banning the sale of foie gras in restaurants as well as by individuals… Continue reading Town Meeting bans sale of foie gras in Brookline, amends zoning bylaws for disability accommodations
News in brief: How to apply for CPA funding, and learn about a new ‘near-miss’ portal
The town is preparing to launch its next cycle of Community Preservation Act (CPA) funding applications, with mandatory information sessions scheduled to begin in mid-June. Organizations and town departments interested in applying for CPA funds must attend one of three mandatory information sessions based on their project category: Historic Preservation: June 16 at 3:30 PM… Continue reading News in brief: How to apply for CPA funding, and learn about a new ‘near-miss’ portal
Town Meeting preview: A trash fight, broker fees, democracy and foie gras
Brookline’s Annual Town Meeting starts on Tuesday, with the town’s fiscal challenges front and center. As with every spring session of Town Meeting, the budget is the biggest item on the agenda. This year, Town Meeting members will vote on whether to approve a $456.6 million budget that maintains town services, but includes millions of… Continue reading Town Meeting preview: A trash fight, broker fees, democracy and foie gras
Town Meeting to vote on funding for Community Preservation Act projects including temple dome, ice rink and public housing roof
Town Meeting will vote this week on whether to allocate more than $4.5 million in town taxpayer funds for 18 local projects in the areas of housing, open space and historic preservation. The projects are part of Brookline’s second round of Community Preservation Act funding, which uses an additional 1% tax on property in Brookline… Continue reading Town Meeting to vote on funding for Community Preservation Act projects including temple dome, ice rink and public housing roof
Route 9 commercial development project stalls, delaying town’s tax revenue hopes
Brookline’s biggest opportunity for commercial development, an under-utilized stretch of Route 9 in Chestnut Hill, is hitting significant roadblocks. After more than a year of committee meetings, a Town Meeting vote to rezone the area has been pushed back and is now at least another year away. The town’s planning staff are pivoting their approach… Continue reading Route 9 commercial development project stalls, delaying town’s tax revenue hopes
News in brief: Next steps on Chestnut Hill Ave bike lanes, Advisory Committee trash drama, and the town’s rebrand
Town wants feedback on next steps for Chestnut Hill Ave redesign The Department of Public Works will hold a public meeting on Thursday to discuss next steps for redesigning Chestnut Hill Avenue. After public criticism of an initial plan that would have created new bike lanes on the street, separated from traffic by flex posts,… Continue reading News in brief: Next steps on Chestnut Hill Ave bike lanes, Advisory Committee trash drama, and the town’s rebrand
School Committee closes budget gap by tapping ‘circuit breaker’ funds
The School Committee on Thursday made the final adjustments needed to close an $8.2 million budget gap projected for fiscal year 2026, which begins July 1. The committee unanimously approved a $142,148,452 budget for the Public Schools of Brookline, moving one step closer to the end of a months-long budget process. Next, Town Meeting must… Continue reading School Committee closes budget gap by tapping ‘circuit breaker’ funds
A popular adult education nonprofit faces an uncertain future amid schools budget crunch
The School Committee voted to pause funding at the end of the summer for Brookline Adult and Community Education, a public education nonprofit that offers a wide array of courses to adults, children and seniors in Brookline. The School Committee previously voted to help fund BACE — which serves thousands of people but has not… Continue reading A popular adult education nonprofit faces an uncertain future amid schools budget crunch
School Committee notes: FY26 budget gap reduced to $1.7 million
The School Committee continued to reduce Brookline schools’ fiscal year 2026 budget gap on Thursday, but some of the most controversial cuts were rejected or postponed. By the end of Thursday’s School Committee meeting, the district’s projected budget gap was reduced to about $1.7 million, down from roughly $8 million earlier this year. The gap,… Continue reading School Committee notes: FY26 budget gap reduced to $1.7 million
Meet the candidates in a crowded race for School Committee
This year’s race for Brookline’s School Committee is the most competitive since 2018, with six candidates, including two incumbents, running for three open seats in the May 6 election. Most new candidates cited the district’s cyclical fiscal problems as a top reason for running — particularly the $8-million budget gap for fiscal year 2026, which the… Continue reading Meet the candidates in a crowded race for School Committee
Town agrees to pay $1.8 million settlement to police officer who alleged retaliation, discrimination
The town has agreed to pay $1.8 million to settle two lawsuits filed by a police officer who alleged retaliation and gender discrimination at work. The settlement puts an end to a series of complaints brought by Amy Hall, a 20-year veteran of the Brookline Police Department, which have been winding their way through the… Continue reading Town agrees to pay $1.8 million settlement to police officer who alleged retaliation, discrimination
Brookline group aims to fund equity positions cut by School Committee
A coalition of Brookline groups is raising money to fund equity-focused positions across the district that were eliminated by a divided School Committee on March 13. Jodi Fortuna, the district’s deputy superintendent of teaching and learning, announced at a School Committee meeting Thursday that the coalition, coordinated by the Brookline Community Foundation, has raised about… Continue reading Brookline group aims to fund equity positions cut by School Committee
Town officials seek greater oversight of school finances amid budget crisis
As Brookline’s schools face major budget problems, the town is moving to assert itself more in the school system’s financial processes. The budget process for fiscal year 2026 started with an $8.2 million gap between the superintendent’s initial budget proposal and the town’s allocation of funding for the schools. The shortfall has since been whittled… Continue reading Town officials seek greater oversight of school finances amid budget crisis
Former schools administrator tapped for interim deputy superintendent role amid budget, special ed controversies
The School Committee has hired Karen Shmukler, a former long-time administrator in the district, to temporarily fill the role left by Liza O’Connell, the deputy superintendent in charge of special education who is resigning after alleging financial mismanagement in Brookline schools. The committee voted unanimously on Wednesday night to name Shmukler interim deputy superintendent of… Continue reading Former schools administrator tapped for interim deputy superintendent role amid budget, special ed controversies
Town budget proposal avoids service cuts, as school funding decisions await
Brookline’s municipal departments, other than its schools, look set to avoid major cuts for the moment under a budget proposal put forward by the town staff this week. The financial plan navigates a $560,000 gap between projected revenues and expenditures in fiscal year 2026 by suggesting what Town Administrator Charles Carey called “modest” reductions. “There… Continue reading Town budget proposal avoids service cuts, as school funding decisions await
District leaders propose sweeping cuts to address $8 million school budget deficit
In the face of an $8.2 million budget deficit, Public Schools of Brookline administrators proposed sweeping cuts — including slashing the district’s performing arts program and removing half the instructional aides in first grade classrooms — at a School Committee meeting Thursday. At the request of the School Committee, district leaders put forward about $9 million worth… Continue reading District leaders propose sweeping cuts to address $8 million school budget deficit
State House roundup: Approval for Pierce School geothermal, earmarks for Brookline
Among the flurry of bills passed by the end of the State House session this week were some notable pieces of legislation which will impact Brookline. Most timely was one filed by Brookline Representative Tommy Vitolo which will allow the town to install 80 geothermal wells, each 600 feet deep, to heat and cool the… Continue reading State House roundup: Approval for Pierce School geothermal, earmarks for Brookline
School budget: Town Meeting will vote on world language funding, Baldwin School renovation
At its first session of the year, Town Meeting will take votes on a proposal to reverse funding cuts to the schools world language program, and weigh in on disagreements over a renovation of the Baldwin School. Town Meeting is Brookline’s 263-person legislative body, meeting typically twice a year. At the spring session, Town Meeting… Continue reading School budget: Town Meeting will vote on world language funding, Baldwin School renovation