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By Mayor Katjana Ballantyne

When I took office in 2022, Somerville was still emerging from the worst of the pandemic while navigating the host of pressures facing most cities across the nation: housing instability, growing need for services, aging infrastructure, and the urgency of climate change. But as I rallied my administration to meet these needs, I also saw the opportunity to build a more inclusive, equitable city where everyone can thrive – at its core, we were seeking progress for all.

That vision and those values guided every decision of the past four years. And as my second term comes to a close, I am submitting an End of Term Transition Report to our City Council as a governing responsibility. Its aim is simple: clearly document where Somerville stands in terms of projects and initiatives and provide a reliable foundation for the next administration, for the City Council, and for the public as they too serve this amazing community we all call home.

Below are some key points, and the report offers a more detailed summary of my administration’s work, and I want to be clear, it’s also a reflection of the many people who shaped the progress of the last four years. I want to thank our community partners and residents, our business owners and workers, our local and regional elected officials, and our tireless staff for your voices, commitment, resilience, creativity, determination, and your belief in this city.

Thank you as well for the honor of allowing me to serve as your Mayor. As we move forward, I too as a dedicated resident will continue to do my part, with you and for you, always.

Inclusive by Design

Inclusiveness begins with ensuring the people most affected by policy decisions have a seat at the table. That principle shaped initiatives such as the Anti-Displacement Task Force, Cultural Capacity Plan, Climate Forward Plan, Participatory Budgeting, and Public Safety for All reports. It guided our expansion of outreach across departments from hundreds of in-person engagements to the work of outreach staff who did the work to meet residents where they are on sidewalks, in businesses, at events, and more.

Inclusiveness also means standing up for the safety and dignity of our residents. In February 2025, Somerville joined Chelsea in filing a federal lawsuit with the pro bono support of Lawyers for Civil Rights, challenging actions by the Trump Administration that threaten to withhold federal funding from so-called “sanctuary cities.” Somerville has been identified as a welcoming city since 1987 because residents are safer when victims and witnesses can report crimes without fear. Protecting that principle, and the federal resources that support public safety, homelessness prevention, and youth health initiatives, is part of governing responsibly.

Equity as a Guiding Commitment

Many residents and staff told me that with our American Rescue Plan Act funding, we could have focused solely on traditional infrastructure projects. We chose instead to make equity central to our recovery. Equity is rarely the easiest path, but it is the right one.

While $44 million went to infrastructure, $35 million supported residents facing the hardest impacts of COVID-19. We implemented flexible rental assistance, guaranteed basic income, childcare support, and other programs that required creativity and determination from our staff.

We also took on structural inequities within the City workforce. Through the Wage and Compensation Study, and the negotiations that followed, we lifted historically low salaries within SMEU and improved benefits while righting long-standing inequities between comparable jobs. This is lasting pay equity and a reflection of my administration’s and our community’s commitment to doing what is right.

Creating Opportunities to Thrive

To deliver on our progressive values, we must diversify our revenue. That’s why my administration pursued strategic commercial development rather than leaving growth to chance.

Through tough tech zoning, the Brickbottom plan, and Assembly Square, Somerville is positioned to generate roughly $255 million in community benefits, investments that will support affordable housing, job creation, linkage fees, and resources for schools and core services.

Because of this approach, we were able to increase the Somerville Public Schools budget by nearly 34% over four years. We built or upgraded 13 parks, accelerated street safety improvements, and advanced nationally recognized climate work, including the Pollinator Action Plan, which offers a nationally recognized blueprint for other cities to help prevent species collapse.

In response to long-standing calls from youth, families, and educators, I also drove resources into out-of-school time programming including opening three temporary, dedicated spaces for teens across Somerville during the summer months.  While temporary by design, they piloted a model for responding to youth needs while continuing the work toward a long-term solution.

A Foundation for the Future

Sound fiscal stewardship is essential to delivering lasting progress. During my term, Somerville achieved a historic milestone, earning a AAA bond rating for the first time in the City’s history — and maintaining that top rating for three consecutive years. This distinction reflects disciplined financial management and long-term planning, and it matters because it lowers borrowing costs and allows the City to invest more effectively in infrastructure, housing, schools, and core services that residents rely on.

That same commitment to fiscal responsibility is reflected in delivering a balanced budget for Fiscal Year 2026, even amid economic uncertainty and rising costs. Together, these achievements ensure Somerville remains financially strong while continuing to advance equity, opportunity, and resilience.

Those are just highlights of the work we advanced with the backing of a community that believes in progress for all — whether launching the most ambitious infrastructure projects in a century, like the Poplar Street Pump Station and sewer separation efforts, or expanding housing supports, artist space, and food access.

Everything a local government does flows from the will of its people. Our will and our values will carry us through coming challenges and help us seize new opportunities. Somerville’s future is bright because its people believe in that brighter future. I am grateful to have served, proud of what my administration has built, and confident in the foundation we are passing on.