Framingham City Council Rejects $401.8 Million FY2027 Budget on 9-1 Vote

FRAMINGHAM — May 5, 2026 — Framingham City Council votes 9-1 to reject mayor's $401.8 million FY2027 budget. Council President John Stefanini moved to return the proposed budget — which carries a 4.9 percent spending increase, a 4.5 percent property tax levy hike, and relies on roughly $14 million in one-time free cash — to Mayor Charlie Sisitsky's administration with a two-week deadline for revisions. Stefanini called the plan "structurally deficient," warning that spending $14 million in free cash this year is "equivalent to six, six and a half percent increase in our taxes" with no replacement revenue in sight. Councillor Michael Cannon declared crossing the $400 million budget threshold "irresponsible," saying "there are no brave decisions in this budget." Councillor George King compared Framingham's per-capita economic development investment of $2.10 to neighboring Marlboro's $21.40, calling it an order-of-magnitude failure. Councillor Noval Malik cast the lone no vote. The Finance Subcommittee was set to meet Thursday, May 7, to begin revision work. The school department's budget, which the mayor funded at roughly $188 million against the School Committee's own higher figure, remains the most contested line item heading into that process.