Resident priorities, 2024–25 to 2026–27
What do Boston residents keep asking for, and has it been funded?
Every summer, residents send the City their ideas for spending part of the budget. This page brings three cycles of those ideas together so residents, City staff and City leaders can see the needs that come back year after year.
- Ideas in Action cycles
- 3
- ideas from residents
- 3,748
- funded projects
- 14
- funded by resident vote
- $4.2M
- voters in the first two votes (4,462 + 4,919)
- 9,381
Priority tracker
Ideas per theme in each cycle, with the theme's rank out of 20. 6 themes ranked in the top 10 every cycle and are marked as a consistent priority. Choose a theme to see what residents asked for.
Themes grouped with AI from resident idea text.
- Parks, trees & climateConsistent priority2024–25129#22025–26133#22026–27149#1Total: 411
- Pedestrian & bike safetyConsistent priorityNot yet addressed by a winning project2024–25157#12025–2653#102026–27114#3Total: 324
- Recreation facilities & sportsNot yet addressed by a winning project2024–2531#172025–26123#32026–27141#2Total: 295
- Youth programs & schoolsConsistent priority2024–2581#32025–2687#42026–27113#4Total: 281
- Clean streets & restroomsConsistent priority2024–2562#92025–26147#12026–2767#9Total: 276
- Affordable housing & rent stabilityConsistent priority2024–2573#62025–2660#62026–2769#7Total: 202
- Transit & getting around2024–2574#52025–2665#52026–2758#11Total: 197
- Youth jobs & fellowships2024–2577#42025–2623#192026–2792#5Total: 192
- Libraries, digital & civic lifeConsistent priorityNot yet addressed by a winning project2024–2558#102025–2654#92026–2768#8Total: 180
- Street & sidewalk repairNot yet addressed by a winning project2024–2555#122025–2659#82026–2755#12Total: 169
- Other or unclear2024–2571#72025–2652#112026–2746#14Total: 169
- Arts & cultureNot yet addressed by a winning project2024–2556#112025–2645#132026–2759#10Total: 160
- Mental health & substance useNot yet addressed by a winning project2024–2564#82025–2660#72026–2735#16Total: 159
- Food access2024–2529#182025–2645#122026–2770#6Total: 144
- Public safety & crime prevention2024–2549#132025–2631#172026–2746#13Total: 126
- Adult jobs & small business2024–2536#152025–2642#142026–2739#15Total: 117
- Homelessness & shelter2024–2548#142025–2636#152026–2733#17Total: 117
- Health care accessNot yet addressed by a winning project2024–2527#192025–2630#182026–2724#18Total: 81
- Older adult support2024–2532#162025–2622#202026–2724#19Total: 78
- Immigrant & language support2024–2511#202025–2636#162026–2723#20Total: 70
Themes not yet addressed by a winning project: Pedestrian & bike safety (324 ideas), Recreation facilities & sports (295 ideas), Libraries, digital & civic life (180 ideas), Street & sidewalk repair (169 ideas), Arts & culture (160 ideas), Mental health & substance use (159 ideas), Health care access (81 ideas). A project counts toward a theme when its description matches the theme; this is not an official City classification. 2026–27 projects are not chosen yet.
Ask about resident priorities
Pick a question or type your own. Answers draw only on the ideas residents submitted and the winning projects.
How Ideas in Action works
1. Ideas
Residents submit ideas on their own or at workshops, libraries, community centers and partner events.
- 2024–25: 1,220 ideas (Summer 2024)
- 2025–26: 1,203 ideas (Summer 2025)
- 2026–27: 1,325 ideas (July 1 – August 7, 2026)
2. Proposals
Ideas are developed into proposals, and the strongest go on the ballot.
- 2024–25: 15 drafted, 14 on the ballot
- 2025–26: 14 drafted, 14 on the ballot
- 2026–27: Proposal development (October – November 2026)
3. Vote
Residents vote for the projects they want funded.
- 2024–25: 4,462 voters (January 2025)
- 2025–26: 4,919 voters (Winter 2025–26)
- 2026–27: voting January – February 2027
4. Funding
The winning projects are funded and carried out by City departments.
- 2024–25: 6 projects, $2M
- 2025–26: 8 projects, $2.2M
- 2026–27: winners chosen after the vote