Fall River Mayor Paul Coogan has submitted to the City Council a Fiscal 2021 budget totaling $280.8 million.
The spending plan was delayed two months due to the uncertainty of local aid distribution from the state. Last week it was announced that Governor Baker and the state legislature will fund local aid to cities and towns for the coming year equal to FY 2020 levels.
The proposed budget is $10.7 million or 4% above the FY 2020 spending plan of $270.1 million.
“My priorities during these challenging times are to protect our municipal and educational services, assist residents and businesses and safeguard the health and safety of our employees.” the mayor wrote in a letter to the council.
Mayor Coogan says the city has imposed a hiring freeze and some vacant positions will not be filled. There are layoffs, but no widespread reductions in the city’s workforce or any additional increase in fees.
The budget does not include any money from the city’s stabilization fund.
The mayor hopes there will be more clarity and flexibility as to how the city can spend $7.9 million in CARES Act funding allocated to deal with the effects of COVID-19. He says if the city can use the money for general government purposes that will lessen the negative impacts of the new budget.
The mayor says the budget may need to be revised prior to the certification of the tax rate due to the continuing effects of the pandemic. He says if further reductions are needed all options will be on the table.
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