The Cambridge City Council, including Cambridge Mayor Denise Simmons, voted unanimously to increase property taxes starting in the next fiscal year to help pay the city’s bills.

The increase raises the commercial tax rate approximately 22 percent to $14.07 per every $1,000 in assessed property value, up from $11.52. It will also increase the residential tax approximately 5 percent, to $6.67 per every $1,000 of their property’s assessed value, up from $6.35.

City leaders said they spend millions on sheltering the homeless, and have plans to install a universal Pre-K for children, on top of its regular funding of schools, public safety, and the Department of Public Works (DPW).

“This is really part of the broader budget process,” said City Manager Yi An-Huang.

The city’s nearly billion d

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