Schools

New Watertown High School Nearly Done, Remains on Budget

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The new Watertown High School is approaching completion, with teachers expected to move in after school ends in June. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

Wednesday afternoon, School Committee members, City Councilors and others got to see the new classrooms, theater, gym, and media center that will be enjoyed by Watertown High School students starting in September. The school is taking shape, with the walls and floor covering completed on the upper floors of the four-story structure, and a fresh coat of varnish still drying on the floor of the gymnasium at the new Watertown High School. A view of the gym floor at the new Watertown High School. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

Construction should be completed in the next few months, said Christy Murphy of owner project management firm Vertex.

Business

What New Industries Might be Attracted to Watertown, Changes to the Square Discussed by City Manager

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City Manager George Proakis spoke at the Watertown Business Coalition’s City Update on March 5, 2026. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

Watertown became a magnet for life science companies in the last several years, and City Manager George Proakis said the building boom in that industry may be slowed, but other industries may be attracted to the same things: proximity to Boston and the universities in the area, easy access, and a nice place to be. Proakis spoke about the City’s economic and financial outlook during the Watertown Business Coalition’s City Update on Thursday morning at the Hampton Inn & Suites. His outlook for Watertown’s economic future was positive, despite the dip in the City’s most prominent industry: life sciences. “We are still in a community, in a state that is well invested in new growth.

Business

City Manager’s City Update Will Focus on Local Business Community & Economy

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The Watertown Business Coalition will host Watertown City Manager George Proakis at the annual City Update. His talk will focus on news and issues that will impact Watertown’s businesses and the local economy. See more information provided by the WBC, below. The WBC is honored to again partner with Watertown’s City Manager, George Proakis, to provide a City Update. Please join us on March 5th at 8 a.m. at the Hampton Inn & Suites at Arsenal Yards in Watertown!

Government

Watertown Police Will Soon Start Using Cameras That Can Capture License Plate Info, ACLU Expresses Some Concerns

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In the next few weeks the Watertown Police Department will have access to new equipment that can capture images of license plates of passing cars. The technology is intended to help with criminal investigations, but some have expressed concerns about how it will be used, including the ACLU of Massachusetts. City Manager George Proakis provided information about the Flock Safety program to the City Council on Nov. 25. The Flock system was approved in the Fiscal Year 2026 budget and eight cameras will be installed on major roadways in Watertown.

Government

City Manager Outlines What it Would Take for Watertown to Afford to Rebuild the Middle School

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Watertown Middle School (Courtesy of Watertown Public Schools)

The City Council must soon decided on how to proceed with Watertown Middle School’s renovations: completely redo it or do basic repairs. The catch is a complete renovation (or rebuilt) would required cutting funds planned to go to other areas. City Manager George Proakis outlined what it would take for the City to afford to completely renovate or rebuild the Middle School during his Preliminary Budget Overview for the Fiscal Year 2027 City budget. A big caveat in this plan is the Legislature approving Watertown’s Home Rule Petition that would provide tax relief to residential property owners, and would prevent tax increases of 11 to 18 percent next year (see details here). A feasibility study on the building a new middle school found that the cost of the full project was $112 million, which was well above the $87 million that the City budgeted for the project.

Government

Budget Forecast: State Legislation Will Have Big Impact on Watertown’s FY27 City Budget

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For several years, Watertown’s City has operated comfortably on a budget built on the 2.5 percent property tax increase allowed by the State and the added tax revenue from new developments. A mixture of economic uncertainty and the unknown of whether the State Legislature will approve Watertown’s tax relief request means residents could face a major tax increase next year. City Manager George Proakis presented the Preliminary Fiscal Year 2027 Budget to the City Council on Monday night, which has total forecast expenditures of $226.2 million and includes a shortfall of at least $3.6 million. He also told the Council that his aim is to “maintain options and flexibility” in the City’s budget. He stressed the budget figure is an estimate, adding that the numbers are based on the approval of the Home Rule Petition submitted by Watertown to the Legislature.

Government

State of the City: Manager’s New Goals, Charter Review & a Downtown Post Office

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The City of Watertown will have a new set of goals used to create the annual budget and make decisions about how municipal departments operate, City Manager City Manager George Proakis said during Tuesday’s State of the City presentation. During the address, he and City Council President Mark Sideris also discussed the Charter Review set to happen in 2026, and the possibility of having a Post Office in the center of town. This is the second story on the 2025 State of the City Address. See the first story, focused on the factors that could impact Watertown’s economic future, and in turn the City’s budget, by clicking here. New Goals

Proakis has been in town for three years, and has worked with the City Council to create the budget.

Government

City Manager’s Reflection One-Week After the End of the Trash Strike

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Full trash bins during the recently-ended trash strike. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

Watertown City Manager George Proakis sent out the following piece on Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025. As we end the first week of fall and reflect upon the summer that saw our regular trash and recycling services disrupted by the labor strike between Republic Services and their unionized workforce, I want to extend my sincere appreciation to the community for their continued understanding and the members of City staff for their hard work. Back when the strike began on July 1, 2025, and it became clear that Republic Services were not able to deliver services to our community, regardless of their prior assurances, our DPW Director Tom Brady, the Recycling Program Manager Matt Bacon, and our Communications Team began working together hour-by-hour to ensure effective messaging out to the community, and dedicating themselves to finding a creative solution to the problem facing Watertown.