Good government
Mayor LaFrance came into office with a commitment to “get the basics right”: to staff up departments, be transparent and fiscally responsible, and provide better city services. When Mayor LaFrance took office, the city faced a series of challenges: vacancy levels in departments were as high as 40%, scandals and ethics violations were common, and city services like snow removal were underperforming.
Actions taken to address good government:
2025 budget was under the tax cap, avoided cuts, and passed the Assembly unanimously
Proposed 2026 budget is under the tax cap and avoids any cuts to services
Hiring city workers, including reducing the vacancy rate from 40% to 17% in the Health Department and from 40% to 0% in Prosecution
Results to date
Millions of dollars in cuts to services avoided through smart budgeting
100+ vacant positions filled at the Municipality
City services from trash collection to street maintenance are being performed on-time
Deeper dive
When Mayor LaFrance took office, the city faced a series of challenges: vacancy levels in departments were as high as 40%, scandals and ethics violations were common, and city services like snow removal were underperforming.
Addressing the city’s staffing crisis
When Mayor LaFrance took office, 20% of city jobs were vacant. That’s hundreds of vacancies across departments, meaning fewer Prosecutors holding criminals accountable, fewer Parks & Recreation staff keeping public spaces clean, fewer public health workers providing care to people who need it, fewer people processing housing permits, and fewer snow plow operators getting streets cleared in winter.
Today: The vacancy rate at the city has gone from 20% to 15%, meaning over 100+ positions filled since Mayor LaFrance took office.
Vacancy rate at City Hall
Balanced budgeting under the tax cap
Mayor LaFrance has committed to funding the city’s critical needs, such as staffing and service delivery, while maintaining a balanced budget and staying under the tax cap.
This is a departure from the previous administration, which proposed millions of dollars in cuts to basic service delivery.
Proposed budget cuts to city services
Mayor LaFrance’s proposed budget for FY2026 prioritizes public safety, homelessness response, and city services, and is under the tax cap. The proposed budget can be found here.
While the proposed 2026 budget avoids cuts to service, the LaFrance administration has warned that shrinking revenue from the state and increased costs due to inflation have put the Municipality at a “fiscal cliff.”