The Fall River City Council last night, by a 5-4 vote, approved a $312.6 million dollar budget to fund the city for the fiscal year 2021.
Last week the council voted 5-4 to reject Mayor Paul Coogan’s spending plan, complaining there was not enough time to study the budget document combined with concerns of using one-time money to fill budget holes.
During the council’s finance committee meeting, city Director of Financial Services Mary Sahady presented the council with ways the city could either raise revenue or cut expenses to avoid using some $2 million dollars from the city’s stabilization account. Among the items up for discussion are:
- Raising parking meter fees from $.25 to $.50
- Adding additional parking meters across the city
- Raising parking fines from $20 to $25
- Eliminating trash pick-up for local businesses
- Eliminating trash pick-up for many six tenement or larger residences
- Increasing fees for bulky item disposal
- Increasing fees for building permits
Some of the budget measures being considered could be in place as early as November. Mrs. Sahady said also up for discussion is the return of some version of a trash fee.
Councilor Pam Laliberte-Lebeau was the councilor who changed her vote to ensure passage of the budget. She said she is satisfied by the moves made by the administration in finding ways to balance the budget.
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