WORCESTER - The Worcester City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to hold the City's Fiscal Year 2021 budget.

The Council is asking for time for further reconsideration after approving it just last week. Prior to the meeting, more than 100 people protested outside of City Hall asking the City Council to re-do the vote.

The budget includes a more than $250,000 increase for the Worcester Police budget. Protesters believe the increase should be reallocated to community services including the school system, after school and weekend programs for youth and mental health services.

Pa'Lante Latinx Moving Forward organized the rally. Members of the group and community members say they're looking for change.

"While they’re discussing the budget they're meeting online and having virtual meetings and the community is calling in and giving their testimony and telling them what they think they should do with our money and probably for technical reasons or maybe for whatever other reasons, they cut the community off. They weren't listening to the community and that's why we are here,” said Pa’Lante Latinx Moving Forward President, Em Quiles. 

"We don't have to defund them, but the fact that you gave them an increase we just felt like that was a slap in the face to the community, the people that stand for [the City Council members], the people who believe in [the City Council members], that trust in [the City Council members],” says Milhomme Jean-Charles, who attended the protest.

A budget must be approved by Friday, June 26, If the budget is not approved it would automatically pass as it was presented by the City Manager.