Mayor Sarno announces Fiscal Year 2026 Budget for City of Springfield

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - More than $985 million is set to provide for the city and the people of Springfield.

Mayor Sarno announced the total for the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget on Thursday at City Hall.

The announcement shares a six percent increase over the Fiscal Year 2025 Budget. This new budget also marks the 11th year in which no reserve funds have been used.

Reserve funds are a savings account set aside to cover unexpected costs. Currently, the city of Springfield's reserves are more than $71 million, with plans to grow.

These funds also provide a safety net during a changing economy like the current trade war.

FY26 is also set to benefit children and parents. Summer programs for K-12 Springfield Public Schools students are included in the investment, with curriculum in art, music, reading, literacy, and math.

Housing, a nationwide crisis, is also a priority in Springfield. Mayor Sarno shared that 500 market-rate units are coming to the city, "Market rate housing with 31 Elm just one big award for what was done there…and now you're going to see the old school department that is finally going to get done."

Healthy neighborhoods were also part of Mayor Sarno's announcement on Thursday.

This includes code enforcement like building and housing inspections, along with addressing sidewalk repairs.

Public Safety is also part of the FY26 budget. The Springfield Police Department plans to increase its overall staff to over 600.