At a joint meeting of the Fall River City Council and School Committee last night, the Coogan administration gave a preview of what the city’s budget may look like when the new fiscal year begins on July 1.
Early estimates put the spending plan at 372.5 million dollars, an increase over FY 24 of 14.7 million dollars or 4.1%. Most of that increase is attributed to state funding for local schools. During the presentation, city Chief Financial Officer Bridget Almon gave an overview of the city’s budget priorities and challenges as it finalizes the spending plan.
Next year the city will be asked to pay approximately $800,000 toward constructing the new Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School. In subsequent years the city’s cost will rise dramatically. Mayor Paul Coogan said the city does not currently have the money to pay for the increase and he plans to seek taxpayer support to pay for the city’s portion of Diman’s construction through a debt exclusion vote that could take place this fall. In 2018 residents approved a debt exclusion to raise taxes for building a new BMC Durfee High School.
The mayor asked the city council two years ago to authorize a debt exclusion vote for Diman but it did not approve that request.
Video courtesy Fall River Government Television
