The Fall River City Council last night voted 5-3 to pass Mayor Paul Coogan’s FY 2024 city budget.
Over the past week, the council spent two evenings questioning department heads and the city administration on specifics within the $400 million-plus budget. In the end councilors Brad Kilby, Leo Pelletier, Linda Pereira, Laura Washington and President Joseph Camara voted to pass the spending plan. Councilors Shawn Cadime, Michelle Dionne and Andrew Raposo voted no. Councilor Pam Laliberte did not attend last night’s meeting.
Mayor Coogan praised his financial team for putting together a responsible and balanced budget, with the council making no changes.
The budget uses one-time funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and free cash from years past that will be spent on capital expenditures and reducing the taxpayers’ debt on paying for the new Durfee High School. The mayor realizes that once the money runs dry, the city will need to be creative in raising revenue. Beginning next year the city will seek full taxpayer support to cover the costs for Durfee as well as the construction of a new Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School.
Prior to the vote, Councilor Dionne expressed her concern about the use of one-time funds without a plan moving forward.
City Director of Financial Services Bridget Almon told the council using one-time funds now will lessen the need for the city to borrow to pay for capital expenses.
During last night’s hearing much of the discussion centered around the rising cost of trash pick-up and disposal. Councilor Dionne said the council has asked the administration to clamp down on the pick-up of business trash that is not included in its contract.
Councilor Dionne also questions the administration’s commitment to following its trash contract when it comes to supplying recycling carts to six-family homes.
In response, City Administrator Seth Aitken said the city is looking to renegotiate its trash pick-up and disposal contracts with EZ Disposal and Republic Services.
Mr. Aitken is hopeful that the renegotiations will rectify the issue with business trash pick-up.
The city budget approved last night will take effect on July 1.
Video courtesy Fall River Government Television
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