Budget season is almost over. On Wednesday morning, Mayor Michelle Wu returned an updated Fiscal Year 2027 budget to the City Council, accepting all the body’s amendments except a $1.4 million cut to the Boston Transportation Department (BTD).

In a letter to the council, Wu explained that the proposed cut would require layoffs across the department, including parking enforcement, transportation planning, administrative staff, and maintenance. Rather than rejecting the amendment outright, Wu will redirect funds from BTD’s contracted services, extending timelines and adjusting service levels.

The amended budget, proposed by Councilor John FitzGerald, would reallocate $1.4 million from BTD to other departments to avoid controversial cuts to social services. The amendment passed 10-3 last week, with Councilors Gabriela Coletta Zapata, Sharon Durkan, and Liz Breadon dissenting. FitzGerald said he targeted BTD due to the department has “bandwidth” to absorb the cuts.

“My issue with this package is that the pulls from BTD will undoubtedly result in layoffs,” Durkan said. “I can not fathom giving BTD less resources to make our streets safer.”

These concerns were echoed by transit advocacy groups, including Transportation for Massachusetts (T4MA), Bikes Not Bombs, and the Conservation Law Foundation, who thanked the Mayor for reversing the decision.

“The staff whose jobs were at risk fix our most dangerous intersections, deliver faster and more reliable buses, improve pedestrian crossings near schools and health centers, optimize traffic signals to reduce delay for drivers and riders alike, and help Boston advance the critical transportation projects residents depend on. Their work reduces crashes, saves lives, and connects us all,” they said in a joint letter. “Preserving these positions also protects Boston’s ability to compete for state and federal transportation funding and continue delivering projects that make our streets safer, more reliable, and more accessible.

Wu accepted other items in the amendment package, including funding for programs supporting seniors, the arts, downpayment assistance and housing vouchers, small businesses, and youth employment.

The Council met briefly on Wednesday but adjourned after sending the Mayor’s proposal to the Committee on Ways and Means to be voted on next week, June 24.

The Council was torn over the decision, with Councilors At-Large Julia Mejia and Erin Murphy pushing to deliberate on the changes before next week’s vote. Councilor Ed Flynn added that he is concerned about potential violations of Massachusetts Open Meeting laws by councilors meeting with Wu’s staff during a ‘die-in’ protest staged by local youth frustrated with the Mayor’s cuts.

These clashes have become the norm during a budget season that has proven contentious for the Council. Though the Mayor has said her $4.9 billion budget was designed to preserve essential city services, the cuts to various departments have proven controversial both inside and outside the Iannella Chamber. As Boston faces rising costs and lowered tax revenues, pressure from advocates and community groups has challenged the city’s priorities.

Community members and councilors alike have urged Wu to tap into the city’s coffers to avoid budget cuts. Wu has called the decision “fiscally irresponsible” and said that private investments and philanthropy will instead pick up the slack.