Office of Budget Management - Boston, MA

Office of Budget Management (OBM)

Fiscal Stewardship

The Office of Budget Management (OBM) is the financial nerve center for the City of Boston, located within City Hall. Its primary responsibility is to ensure the city's long-term fiscal stability while enabling the effective delivery of municipal services. OBM evaluates city programs and uses this analysis to build, present, and manage the Mayor's Operating Budget 💰. Additionally, the office creates the Capital Plan, a strategic five-year document that outlines investments in the city's infrastructure, such as schools, parks, roads, and bridges.

• Operating Budget: Allocates funds for the daily operations of city departments, including police, fire, and schools.
• Capital Planning: Prioritizes and funds major infrastructure projects to support Boston's future growth.
• Performance Analysis: Monitors department spending and performance to ensure taxpayer money is used efficiently.
• Grant Management: Oversees the acceptance and expenditure of federal and state grants.

Office Operations

Located in Room 813 of Boston City Hall, OBM works closely with all city departments to formulate their annual budget requests. While the office is primarily administrative and deals with internal city governance, it produces the public-facing budget documents that promote transparency 🏳️. Residents interested in how their tax dollars are spent can access detailed budget data and interactive tools online.

Access and Security

As part of Boston City Hall, visitors to the Office of Budget Management must pass through the building's main security screening 🛡️. This includes metal detectors and bag checks at the entrances. The office operates during standard city business hours, though most of its resources for the public are available digitally.