Cambridge heads defend budget amendment process that irked councillors
Posted Nov 19, 2025 11:30:23 AM.
Last Updated Nov 19, 2025 11:30:29 AM.
After concerns were raised during a recent Cambridge council meeting over the amendment phase of the 2026 Strong Mayor Budget, officials with the city are now looking to provide some clarity and reel in those issues.
It all stems from the meeting on Nov. 17, when councillors had the opportunity to present potential amendments to the city’s proposed budget, a chance to recommend additions, subtractions, or overall changes to what was recommended.
Councillors stated that, prior to the meeting, various amendments were allegedly blocked prior to heading into chambers, saying they weren’t given a clear reason as to why.
Cambridge Mayor Jan Liggett and City Manager Rob Axiak provided some clarity around the situation as well as the entirety of the amendment process as a whole.
“I wouldn’t suggest that anything was blocked by any means,” stated Axiak. “What we were doing was putting in a step in that process where staff were reaching out to members of council, looking to meet with them, to provide them with all of the information.”
He stated that the moves were to simply support councillors, working to add a step that would give them the information, facts, and figures they would need to fully defend and argue the amendment.
“Staff are there to see if there are ways that may mitigate the impact of what those motions or those amendments may be,” Liggett stated. “They’re there to be helpful.”
Councillors, including Scott Hamilton, Adam Cooper, and Mike Devine, voiced their frustrations during that council meeting, saying they had issues with proposed budget amendment motions being blocked due to a lack of consultation from city staff.
“We have nine people in this room that are elected for four years to represent this community and make decisions,” Councillor Devine said during the meeting. “We can all, if we all choose to, we can all turn it over to staff and nod our heads and say ‘yes, yes, yes, yes.’ Well, I’m sorry, that’s not what I’m here for.”
Both Liggett and Axiak stated that those alleged blocked budget amendment motions were not blocked in the way that it’s been stated by councillors, but were rather sent back so that they could be further researched and developed alongside staff. Axiak stated that it’s solely to provide as much support as possible, ensuring the motions are as complete as possible.
“If they want to remove a capital project, let’s just say, then we would be bringing in a particular department and general manager to help review to make sure that all of the information is in the amendment,” said Axiak.
Liggett also said that some of these potential amendments would involve changes to projects or developments that are already on the go or part of a multi-year effort that’s been approved in prior years. She said that these motions being brought forward to staff for further development helps to avoid any potential issues in the near future, if they were to be pushed forward without it.
“It’s the kind of basic due diligence that residents expect from their elected representatives, not just at budget time, but at any point in time where they bring forward a motion,” Liggett stated.
Right now, different from previous years, councillors have multiple days allotted to present, discuss, and argue those motions, meaning those sent back amendments still have potential life.
“I think this is a good way of doing it,” Liggett said. “In the old system, amendments would come forward and council would vote on each amendment as it came forward. That’s how budgets always balloon.”
Both Liggett and Axiak mentioned that there has been no communication between their offices and those councillors who voiced concerns during the meeting, further stating that no amendments were, technically, blocked completely.
With this being the second year of integrating Strong Mayor Powers into the development of the annual budget, Liggett noted that during the process last year, only one amendment was pulled. She said it would have increased the budget, and the councillor who brought it forward chose not to ask for an override.
As of now, that budget includes a 4.86 per cent property tax increase, slated to increase that portion of household bills by $86.
Councillors still have time to introduce further motions to the proposed 2026 Strong Mayors Budget for Cambridge, with those amendments and more set to be brought back to council on Monday, Nov. 24.
