Budgets
Utilities May Charge Public to Offer Discounts for Big Tech, HLS Report Finds
Members of the public pay a portion of energy bills for the world’s largest tech players as electric utility companies aim to subsidize the rapid growth of data centers from corporations including Meta and Amazon. The findings were reported by the Harvard Law School’s Electricity Law Initiative last month.
Healey, State Leadership Criticize Trump’s Latest Cuts to Public Health Funding
The Healey-Driscoll Administration condemned President Trump’s Wednesday termination of more than $12 billion in public health grants, following funding cuts at the Harvard School of Public Health.
Cambridge Residents Vote to Allocate $1 Million to City Improvement Projects
The City of Cambridge allocated over $1 million to seven city improvement projects in its annual Participatory Budgeting process Friday. Winning projects, nearly all of which each earned more than 3,000 votes from Cambridge residents, included improved seating and shade in public parks, a mobile recycling center, electric vehicle chargers, and more.
Khurana Says Harvard is Preparing for Possible Federal Funding Cuts
Following the Trump administration’s decision to cut $400 million in government grants to Columbia University, Harvard College Dean Rakesh Khurana said top administrators are planning for the possibility that Harvard may be next.
As Trump Slashes Federal Grants, the Harvard School of Public Health Has the Most To Lose
As President Donald Trump escalates his attacks on universities’ access to federal research funding, the Harvard School of Public Health has felt the pain especially acutely.
Trump’s Dismantling of Ed Department Will Have ‘Functionally Zero’ Impact on CPS, District Officials Say
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday calling to dismantle the Department of Education — a change that will have “minimal” impact on Cambridge Public Schools, according to district officials.
Faculty of Arts and Sciences Will Keep Budget Flat, Stop Staff Hiring for Fiscal Year 2026
The Faculty of Arts and Sciences will aim to keep spending flat for fiscal year 2026 amid threats from the Trump administration and long-term financial concerns, according to budget guidance shared by FAS financial officers in early February.
Hoekstra Tells FAS To ‘Prepare for Significant Financial Challenges’ Amid Uncertainty From Washington
Faculty of Arts and Sciences Dean Hopi E. Hoekstra told faculty on Tuesday that she has instructed FAS officials “to prepare for significant financial challenges” and “build financial capacity” as President Donald Trump ramps up threats to Harvard’s funding.
CPS Expects $12 Million Budget Increase in Fiscal Year 2026, Driven by Staff Compensation
Cambridge Public Schools is set to increase its staff salaries and benefits expenditure by $10 million, according to a presentation on the 2026 fiscal year budget at a Jan. 7 School Committee meeting.
City Manager Huang Urges ‘Moderation of Growth’ to Address Budget Crunch
Cambridge City Manager Yi-An Huang ’05 offered a playbook for addressing the city’s unsustainable budget growth in a Friday interview with The Crimson, suggesting that the city may further raise property taxes and pare back certain city services in fiscal year 2026.
Cambridge DSA, Sobrinho-Wheeler Demand Harvard Cough Up $100 Million in PILOT Payments
In the 2023 fiscal year, Harvard paid the City of Cambridge $4.3 million in lieu of property taxes. Some activists — including a sitting city councilor — are demanding the University cough up $96 million more.
Growing Cambridge Budget Spooks City Leaders
Cambridge pursued ambitious spending programs using an ample flow of federal relief funds and property taxes for several years. But as revenue streams dry up, the city is going to have to take a hard look at its priorities.
Cambridge City Council Examines Capital Spending as Cambridge Fire Department Renovations Top $77 Million
The Cambridge City Council asked City Manager Yi-An Huang ’05 to provide an updated cost estimate for capital projects after the renovation of the Fire Station Headquarters reached a total cost of $77 million.
City Council Approves Nearly $1 Billion City Budget, but Cautions Against Further Growth
The Cambridge City Council unanimously passed a nearly $1 billion operating budget and $74 million capital budget for the 2025 fiscal year without major modifications during a meeting Monday evening.
Cambridge City Manager Unveils Nearly $1 Billion 2025 Operating City Budget Proposal
City Manager Yi-An Huang ’05 presented the city’s nearly $1 billion operating budget for fiscal year 2025, along with $36 million in loan order requests and an approximately $74 million capital budget.
Boston City Councilor Breadon Slams Proposed Capital Project Budget for Allston-Brighton
Boston City Councilor Elizabeth A. Breadon slammed the city’s fiscal year 2025 capital budget allocations for Allston-Brighton in an interview Thursday.
Cambridge Police Department Commits to Adopting Body Cameras in FY25
Cambridge Police Commissioner Christine A. Elow committed to implementing body cameras across the department within the 2025 fiscal year during a Cambridge City Council Finance Committee hearing Tuesday.
Cambridge Allocates $2 Million to 8 City Improvement Projects in Annual Participatory Budgeting
The City of Cambridge announced eight winners of its 10th annual Participatory Budgeting process on Thursday, reporting record-high voter turnout thanks to a new initiative that brought PB into schools.
Graduate Student Council Budget ‘Completely Spent,’ Unable to Meet Student Needs
The Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Student Council budget for the 2023-2024 academic year is completely spent, per a budget report released last week.
Rising School Budget Sparks Worries Among Cambridge City Councilors
Rising Cambridge Public Schools budgets sparked worries among some City Councilors and School Committee members during a joint roundtable discussion Monday.
Cambridge City Manager Unveils $882 Million Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Proposal
The Cambridge City Council discussed the fiscal year 2024 budget and a policy order requesting a zoning petition at a meeting Monday.
Cambridge School Committee Adopts Revised FY 2024 Budget Following Parent Input
The Cambridge Public School Committee voted unanimously on Tuesday to adopt a revised fiscal year 2024 budget, while will add additional funding for education paraprofessionals, scaled-up learning time programs, and school improvement budgets at various campuses across the district.
FAS Dean Gay Says She Feels ‘Encouraged’ for the Future of Race-Conscious Admissions After SCOTUS Hearings
After Monday’s Supreme Court hearings for the pair of anti-affirmative action lawsuits, Harvard’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences Dean Claudine Gay said she “felt encouraged” that the case for race-conscious admissions “was laid out in a really compelling way” in an interview Wednesday.
Cambridge Forges Ahead with Participatory Budgeting Despite Pandemic
Despite pandemic-related limitations, Cambridge will proceed with its annual round of participatory budgeting, City Manager Louis A. DePasquale said in a press release last week.
Athletics Halts Capital Projects, Considers Further Budget Cuts
In the face of a financial crisis, Harvard Athletics has deferred all capital projects and is considering other cost-cutting moves.