Other or unclear
Ideas that are off-topic, unclear, too general to classify, or outside the City's role.
Residents in this catch-all theme mostly make broad or unclear asks for community help, cost relief, or ways to spend the $2 million, plus requests outside the City's role.
Theme grouped and summary written with AI from this theme's resident ideas.
169 ideas across three cycles
| Cycle | Ideas | Share of all ideas | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024–25 | 71 | 5.8% | 7 of 20 |
| 2025–26 | 52 | 4.3% | 11 of 20 |
| 2026–27 | 46 | 3.5% | 14 of 20 |
Needs that keep coming back
General help for the community
Residents ask for more opportunities, services or resources for their community without naming a specific project, so the ideas cannot be classified further.
Raised in 2024–25, 2025–26, 2026–27
Ideas about how the participatory budgeting money is used
Some residents urge more or all of the budget go to participatory budgeting, while others propose giving the $2 million to a single cause or organization.
Raised in 2024–25, 2025–26, 2026–27
Direct financial relief for residents
Residents ask for cash support, debt or fee relief, or other help with living costs, often with few details on how the City would deliver it.
Raised in 2024–25, 2025–26, 2026–27
Property tax cuts and returning surplus funds
Residents ask the City to lower property taxes or return surplus money to taxpayers instead of spending it.
Raised in 2024–25, 2026–27
Specific private businesses and food options
Residents ask for particular chains, late-night food, or drinking venues, which are private business decisions rather than City projects.
Raised in 2025–26, 2026–27
2024–25
Cycle 1 had the most ideas and the widest spread, including reentry and legal support, stadium and credit union proposals, and several unclear or joke submissions.
2025–26
Cycle 2 included many empty or one-word submissions alongside cash-payment proposals, public funding for election campaigns, and requests for specific shops and restaurants.
2026–27
Cycle 3 saw more requests about stray animals and spay/neuter services, more property tax relief asks, and a cluster of requests for chain restaurants in Dorchester.
New in 2026–27
Animal-related asks, such as spay/neuter services, rescue grants and a dog shelter, and property tax relief requests grew noticeably in 2026-27.
Funding so far
No winning projects relate to this theme, so none of the recurring asks (general community help, cost relief, tax cuts, animal services, how the budget is spent) has been addressed by a resident-voted project.
Projects are linked to themes by matching each project's description to the themes; this is not an official City classification.
No winning project has addressed this theme yet.
Ideas in Other or unclear
169 ideas
2024–25: 71 · 2025–26: 52 · 2026–27: 46
- ATM at Hyde Park Police Station lobbyInstall a City of Boston Credit Union ATM in the Hyde Park Police Station lobby so residents don't have to travel Downtown or to West Roxbury.2024–25Hyde Park
- Boston credit union branches in more neighborhoodsOpen City of Boston Credit Union branches in Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain, Roxbury, East Boston and Mattapan so residents need not travel to City Hall for full services.2024–25City-wide
- Put all funds into participatory budgetingResident suggests putting all the money into participatory budgeting so the community can decide, for example by piloting programs or raising more money for youth.2024–25City-wide
- Increase participatory budgeting funding to $5 millionResident asks the City to spend $5 million rather than $2 million on participatory budgeting, to meet needs in communities hit by disinvestment and disparities.2024–25City-wide
- Financial assistance for pre-transplant patientsResident asks for financial assistance for patients waiting for an organ transplant.2024–25City-wide
- Run-to-destination program near T stopsResident proposes sharing a list of destinations near T stops so runners run to them and return by T, sharing photos to connect communities.2024–25City-wide
- Unclear ideaThe submission contains only single letters and no identifiable request.2024–25City-wide
- Waive sick leave waiting period for new city employeesLet new city employees use sick leave immediately instead of after six months, so economically insecure workers are not forced to work while ill.2024–25City-wide
- Spend full $5 million on participatory budgetingResident urges the mayor to put the entire $5 million into participatory budgeting so the community can fund what it values.2024–25City-wide