Mayor Domenic Sarno officially unveiled Springfield’s $985.7 million fiscal year 2026 budget in front of city department heads on May 8 at City Hall.
Reminder Publishing photo by Ryan Feyre
SPRINGFIELD — Despite continuous federal uncertainty, Mayor Domenic Sarno asserted that the city of Springfield continues to use “prudent fiscal management” when constructing its budget.
In front of city department heads who gathered at City Hall on May 8, Sarno unveiled a fiscal year 2026 budget of $985.7 million, or a 6.1% increase from FY25.
Although money is “extremely tight” right now because of economic uncertainty, the mayor said this year’s budget includes zero layoffs and no cuts to services.
“A testament to our fiscal strength and discipline, the FY26 budget is balanced for the 11th consecutive year without the use of any stabilization funds,” Sarno said. “That’s unheard of when it comes to city management or urban city management.”
City-side budget spending for FY26 comes in at $315 million, making it a 4.7% increase from FY25 while the School Department budget is presented at $671 million, a 6.8% increase from FY25, and representing two-thirds of Springfield’s overall operating budget for the coming year.
The city also maintains nearly $72 million in “rainy day” stabilization reserve funds for FY26.
According to Sarno, the budget places a continued emphasis on public safety, public education, economic development, healthy neighborhoods and community services.
“We’re going to continue to provide for our residents and our business community, so they make sure that they receive all the core services that we’ve put out before,” Sarno said.
The budget recognizes the efforts of the School Department and notes the decrease in dropout rates and increase in graduation rates since 2012. In his presentation, Sarno said that the full-day preschool program that started in FY24 will continue in FY26, as will research into eligibility and feasibility of rebuilding or replacing German Gerena Community School.
Sarno mentioned that the city has utilized almost $1 billion to rehabilitate schools in the city.
In the public safety realm, Sarno said the city will continue to maintain funding for ongoing initiatives, including its Gaming Enforcement Unit at MGM, the C3 metro unit, 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.
The city will also continue its co-response program in collaboration with Behavioral Health Network as well as its Project HOPE 2.0 initiative, which assists homeless individuals by connecting them to support services in the area.
Sarno said there is “much to be done” in economic development, particularly with housing. He noted that there are currently 500 units of multi-family housing in the pipeline, with an additional 40 for-sale affordable town homes in the city’s South End.
Elsewhere, the “Main Street and Convention Center Overlay District” continue to be underway, which aims to bring market-rate housing, entertainment venues, restaurants and bars, and ground floor retail around the MGM Casino and MassMutual Center.
Under Parks and Recreation, Sarno said the city will transform Greenleaf Park by adding an accessible playground, splash pads trails and green infrastructure design to mitigate heat island effects and increase environmental resiliency.
The city will also improve Gordon Bill Park, now named “Gurdon Bill Bike and Skate Park,” by adding biking and skating elements along with a splash pad.
Sarno added that veteran’s services will once again be fully funded, and the city will continue to have all of its neighborhood library sites open with expanded hours of operations and more programs.
Chief Administrative and Financial Officer Cathy Buono thanked the department heads for their commitment in identifying a 3% reduction to their budgets in either the “Other Than Personal Services” category and/or vacant positions, a request Sarno made at the onset of the budget season to combat “potential financial uncertainty” at the federal level.
“I just want to thank the department heads because we wouldn’t have a balanced budget without you,” Buono said. “You made the cuts we asked you for you gave up positions that weren’t necessary. You consolidated … we really appreciate it.”\
With the budget officially unveiled, Sarno said the City Council will now conduct a series of hearings before eventually voting on it later this spring.
Readers can learn more about the budget by visiting the Springfield website: tinyurl.com/mvyrcfd8.
