Medford’s city budget is deeply underfunded. This year, Medford Public Schools and the Medford Public Library are facing funding shortfalls. The Mayor’s FY24 budget proposal doesn’t include a plan to fix Medford’s biggest budget problems, and it’s clear that Medford needs a better budgeting process so we can plan for our future as a city.

Medford residents are fed up with cracked streets and sidewalks, underfunded schools, tree stump forests, and paying for an inadequate city budget out of our own pockets on car repairs, out-of-school programs, and other essential services that city government can and should provide.

Email the Mayor and City Council to Push for A Better Budget!
Click here to use our email tool or copy the template below and send your version to: mayor@medford-ma.gov and ccmembers@medford-ma.gov

Dear Mayor Lungo-Koehn and City Councilors,

Medford residents are fed up with cracked streets and sidewalks, underfunded schools, and the lack of city staff and funding to fix our biggest problems. 

[Share Your Personal Story About How Underfunding Impacts You and Your Neighbors]

Please take action to make this year’s budget better and create a better budget process that will help us fund our needs going forward!

1. Fund Immediate Needs of Medford Public Schools ($900,000) and Medford Public Library ($100,000)
2. Move forward on Zoning Reform ($50,000) and Budget Planning ($100,000)
3. Support the Medford Better Future Budget Plan to create an open, transparent, and collaborative budget process that sets clear goals to raise the revenue we need to fund Medford’s future 

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

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Can You Attend an Upcoming Meeting & Share Your Story?
School Committee Budget Hearing – Monday, June 5 at 5:30PM (City Hall and Zoom)

City Council Budget Vote – Tuesday, June 20th at 7PM (City Hall and Zoom)

Talking Points

• The Mayor controls the budget – Tell the Mayor what we need!
  • Pass the Medford Better Future Budget Plan to create an open, transparent, collaborative budget process that engages all of the city government and Medford residents to plan for our future!
• No Cuts, No Layoffs – Fund immediate needs
  • Mayor’s $71M proposal is $900K short of immediate needs identified by the School Committee for: New literacy & health curriculums, Investments in climate and culture at Medford High School, and Improved programming at elementary and middle schools
• Make a Real Plan for Our Kids’ Future
  • Act now to prevent layoffs next year! 28 school positions are paid with federal funds that expire in December 2024
  • We cannot lose these mental health and community engagement staff
  • More revenue needed for more competitive salaries to attract and retain best staff
• We need more investment to fix the ridiculous state of disrepair on our streets and sidewalks, and to build safe routes to school for our kids! 
• Any real long-term budget plan has to include a Prop 2.5 override or debt exclusion. The biggest options we have to fix our problems have to be on the table.

Tell your story on June 5th and June 20th to have a real budget conversation in our city!

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Ways to Get More Information

1. Read Councilor Bears’ FY24 budget analysis and the proposed Medford Better Future Budget Plan

2. Follow Our Revolution Medford as well as endorsed City Councilors and School Committee Members on social media

3. Join the ORM Slack and discussion email lists (fill out the ORM membership form to be added to these communication channels)

4. Watch or attend City Council and School Committee meetings

• Monday, June 5th – School Committee Budget Hearing
• May 30th through June 15th – City Council Budget Meetings, watch recordings on Medford Community Media.
• Watch recordings of Medford School Committee Budget Meetings from April and May on the MPS YouTube Channel.

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Thank you for taking action to support our city and its future!