Mayor Marc Laredo will present Newton's five-year fiscal forecast to the City Council on Monday, Oct. 5. The 7 p.m. meeting in City Hall Chambers marks the first public look at the city's FY2028 through FY2032 outlook, according to the council's Oct. 5 docket.
The forecast, submitted as Docket #2-27, was referred to the Finance Committee at the Sept. 8 council meeting alongside a companion five-year capital improvement plan. No details from the forecast have been released publicly. During the FY2027 budget process, Chief Financial Officer Maureen Lemieux said the city used $1.5 million in Free Cash and expected that figure to shrink after FY2027. She also noted that selling a Pension Obligation Bond could provide roughly $10 million in budget relief.
The council approved the FY2027 operating budget 22-2 in May, with Councilors Micley and Roche voting no.
Committee continues parking ban review
The Public Safety and Transportation Committee will continue work on a possible overhaul of Newton's overnight winter parking ban, which prohibits street parking for more than one hour between 2 and 6 a.m. from Dec. 1 through March 31. The ban has been on the books since 1936.
Newton voters narrowly upheld the ban in November 2025, rejecting a repeal question by just 71 votes out of more than 22,000 cast. The council then formed a working group, chaired by Chris Markiewicz, which met eight times and submitted its report in July.
The group found that roughly 1,766 Newton parcels lack off-street parking. It recommended limited, reversible trial changes for the 2026-27 winter season, along with clearer written guidance for exceptions and expanded accommodations for residents with disabilities.
At the committee's Aug. 26 meeting, a straw vote went 3-1-2 in favor of giving the Traffic Council authority to exempt individual streets. Councilor Wright opposed. Councilors Lucas and Block abstained, and Councilor Golden did not vote.
Chair Lucas said in July that any ordinance change must pass the full council by Nov. 2 to take effect before the Dec. 1 start of the ban, because of a 20-day waiting period.
Landmark threshold and golf course taxes
Eight councilors are sponsoring Docket #308-26, which would lower the vote the Newton Historical Commission needs to landmark a building from three-quarters to two-thirds. The item goes to the Zoning and Planning Committee.
Separately, 13 councilors are backing a Finance Committee discussion on how Chapter 61B affects taxation of Newton's golf courses and country clubs, prompted by a recent review report.
How to watch
Monday's hybrid meeting is accessible via Zoom (Webinar ID: 885 9272 1666), live on NewTV (Comcast 9, RCN 13/614HD, Verizon 33) and on NewTV's YouTube channel. Committee reports on Oct. 5 docket items are due back to the full council Oct. 19.
