Council splits on calls for independent audits of schools and city finances; audit resolutions fail

Two council resolutions calling for independent performance audits — one focused on Boston Public Schools and the other on city operations and fiscal management — drew extended debate on April 8 and ultimately failed to win council approval.

Councilor Erin Murphy, co‑filing with Councilor Flynn, argued the scale and timing of staffing and spending changes justified independent reviews. “Ensuring fiscal responsibility is essential to protecting core city services,” Murphy said, noting the school system’s roughly $1.7 billion budget and concerns about resource allocation and proposed staffing reductions.

Supporters said audits would give the council and the public a clearer view of spending patterns, staffing growth and whether resources align with student needs. Councilor Flynn urged the council to “do our due diligence” and called for transparency amid a series of unanswered information requests during budget hearings.

Opponents, including Councilor Collette and Councilor Durkan, pointed out that the city already undergoes annual independent financial audits and that existing oversight bodies — the Audit Committee and the Finance Commission — were working on emerging fiscal concerns. “We have an active audit committee already identifying the pressures cited here,” Collette said, arguing an additional performance audit could duplicate work and take years to complete.

In roll call votes, the resolution calling for an independent performance audit of Boston Public Schools (DOCKET 0780) did not reach the required threshold (six affirmative votes were recorded in the discussion but the measure failed to adopt), and a subsequent resolution calling for an independent audit of the city’s fiscal management (DOCKET 0781) was also not adopted.