Budget
Source: https://www.cambridgema.gov/Departments/Budget
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:31
Budget
Skip to Navigation
Skip to Main Content
Skip to Footer
Official websites use .gov
A
.gov
website belongs to an official government
organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A
lock
(
) or
https://
means you’ve safely connected to
the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official,
secure websites.
Explore the FY26 Budget
View the FY26 Adopted Budget Book
Learn More
Participatory Budgeting
Learn more about Cambridge PB
Learn More
Community Preservation Act
Learn more about the Community Preservation Act
Learn More
FY26 Property Tax Rates Executive Summary
FY26 Property Tax Rate Letter from the City Manager
FY26 Adopted Budget
FY26 Understanding Your Taxes Newsletter
FY26 Property Tax Update, Tax Exemptions & Tax Deferral Newsletter
Open Budget Portal
The primary responsibility of the Budget Department is to prepare the annual operating and capital budgets for submission by the City Manager to the City Council as required by Chapter 44 of the Massachusetts General Laws. In order to produce a fiscally sound budget for an upcoming fiscal year, it is necessary to consistently monitor and analyze the activities of the current fiscal year as well as those of prior fiscal years to detect trends in both revenue and expenditure categories which may have an impact on future budgets.
The Budget Department is also involved in the preparation of official statements and other related documents for bond sales, calculation of the tax rate, grant reconciliations, CPA analyses, maintaining the computerized benchmark system, preparation of financial statements, which are the basis for the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR), and the preparation of appropriation and transfer recommendations. The above-mentioned documents have a direct impact on the City's budget and it is essential that they be prepared in a timely and efficient manner. Office staff continually work with each department and members of the public providing financial information and advice.
Useful Documents & Resources
FY26 Property Tax Update [PDF]
FY26 Tax Rate Letter
FY26 Understanding Your Taxes Newsletter
FY26 Tax Rate Executive Summary
FY25 Adopted Budget [PDF]
View Document Library
Tips and FAQs
City's Bond Rating
The major financial rating agencies in the country (Moody's, Standard and Poor's, and Fitch Ratings) have concluded that the City's finances are in the top tier of communities throughout the United States. This AAA rating from all three agencies is a significant accomplishment for the City and it reflects a great deal of hard work and discipline on the part of the Administration, the City Council, and the Finance Department. In their latest rating, Standard and Poor’s affirmed its Financial Management Assessment (FMA) of the City as “strong.” An FMA of “strong” indicates that practices are strong, well embedded, and likely sustainable.
Participatory Budgeting
Participatory Budgeting (PB) is a democratic process through with community members vote to directly decide how to spend part of a public budget.
In the eleventh PB cycle (August 2024 – March 2025), 10,110 Cambridge residents age 12 and older voted to decide how to spend $1,060,000 on capital and operating projects to improve the community.
The following seven projects won $1,060,000 in FY26 funding:
Improve Parks with Shade Structures and Seating ($250,000)
Build a Pollinator Garden in a City Park ($75,000)
Funding for High School Clubs ($150,000)
Slower Speeds for Safer Streets ($250,000)
Mobile Center for Hard-to-Recycle Items ($75,000)
Welcome Baby Boxes for New Parents ($60,000)
Electric Vehicle Chargers ($200,000)
Visit the Participatory Budgeting website
to learn more about the PB process in Cambridge, past PB projects, how to get involved, and more!
Contacts
PHONE:
617-349-4270
Email Us
795 Massachusetts Ave., 3rd Floor
Cambridge, MA 02139
Contact Us
How can we help?
Please provide as much detail below as possible so City staff can respond to your inquiry:
Description:
*
Name:
Email:
As a governmental entity, the Massachusetts Public Records Law applies to records made or received by the City. Any information received through use of this site is subject to the same provisions as information provided on paper.
Read our complete privacy statement
Service Requests
Enter a service request via SeeClickFix
for things like missed trash pickups, potholes, etc., click here
Close
Skip to Navigation
Skip to Main Content
Skip to Footer
Official websites use .gov
A
.gov
website belongs to an official government
organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A
lock
(
) or
https://
means you’ve safely connected to
the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official,
secure websites.
Explore the FY26 Budget
View the FY26 Adopted Budget Book
Learn More
Participatory Budgeting
Learn more about Cambridge PB
Learn More
Community Preservation Act
Learn more about the Community Preservation Act
Learn More
FY26 Property Tax Rates Executive Summary
FY26 Property Tax Rate Letter from the City Manager
FY26 Adopted Budget
FY26 Understanding Your Taxes Newsletter
FY26 Property Tax Update, Tax Exemptions & Tax Deferral Newsletter
Open Budget Portal
The primary responsibility of the Budget Department is to prepare the annual operating and capital budgets for submission by the City Manager to the City Council as required by Chapter 44 of the Massachusetts General Laws. In order to produce a fiscally sound budget for an upcoming fiscal year, it is necessary to consistently monitor and analyze the activities of the current fiscal year as well as those of prior fiscal years to detect trends in both revenue and expenditure categories which may have an impact on future budgets.
The Budget Department is also involved in the preparation of official statements and other related documents for bond sales, calculation of the tax rate, grant reconciliations, CPA analyses, maintaining the computerized benchmark system, preparation of financial statements, which are the basis for the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR), and the preparation of appropriation and transfer recommendations. The above-mentioned documents have a direct impact on the City's budget and it is essential that they be prepared in a timely and efficient manner. Office staff continually work with each department and members of the public providing financial information and advice.
Useful Documents & Resources
FY26 Property Tax Update [PDF]
FY26 Tax Rate Letter
FY26 Understanding Your Taxes Newsletter
FY26 Tax Rate Executive Summary
FY25 Adopted Budget [PDF]
View Document Library
Tips and FAQs
City's Bond Rating
The major financial rating agencies in the country (Moody's, Standard and Poor's, and Fitch Ratings) have concluded that the City's finances are in the top tier of communities throughout the United States. This AAA rating from all three agencies is a significant accomplishment for the City and it reflects a great deal of hard work and discipline on the part of the Administration, the City Council, and the Finance Department. In their latest rating, Standard and Poor’s affirmed its Financial Management Assessment (FMA) of the City as “strong.” An FMA of “strong” indicates that practices are strong, well embedded, and likely sustainable.
Participatory Budgeting
Participatory Budgeting (PB) is a democratic process through with community members vote to directly decide how to spend part of a public budget.
In the eleventh PB cycle (August 2024 – March 2025), 10,110 Cambridge residents age 12 and older voted to decide how to spend $1,060,000 on capital and operating projects to improve the community.
The following seven projects won $1,060,000 in FY26 funding:
Improve Parks with Shade Structures and Seating ($250,000)
Build a Pollinator Garden in a City Park ($75,000)
Funding for High School Clubs ($150,000)
Slower Speeds for Safer Streets ($250,000)
Mobile Center for Hard-to-Recycle Items ($75,000)
Welcome Baby Boxes for New Parents ($60,000)
Electric Vehicle Chargers ($200,000)
Visit the Participatory Budgeting website
to learn more about the PB process in Cambridge, past PB projects, how to get involved, and more!
Contacts
PHONE:
617-349-4270
Email Us
795 Massachusetts Ave., 3rd Floor
Cambridge, MA 02139
Contact Us
How can we help?
Please provide as much detail below as possible so City staff can respond to your inquiry:
Description:
*
Name:
Email:
As a governmental entity, the Massachusetts Public Records Law applies to records made or received by the City. Any information received through use of this site is subject to the same provisions as information provided on paper.
Read our complete privacy statement
Service Requests
Enter a service request via SeeClickFix
for things like missed trash pickups, potholes, etc., click here
Close