[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6214369,"mediaKeyId","3670638-b270363a77665b99d80f21165e6c87af","parentId",3670638,"title","Council committee and full council vote to reject Fall River FY26 municipal budget; members cite one‑time funding and structural concerns","audioSeconds",152,"startMs",13068000,"endMs",13220000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3670638-b270363a77665b99d80f21165e6c87af&start=13068&end=13220","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3670638-b270363a77665b99d80f21165e6c87af/thumbnail_13068000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6214369/Fall-River-City/Bristol-County/Massachusetts/Council-committee-and-full-council-vote-to-reject-Fall-River-FY26-municipal-budget-members-cite-onetime-funding-and-structural-concerns","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6214369-9f52f60563e1e3171e9a3bd8dcc67119/orig.mp4?Expires=1771044913&Signature=AtXdl6IWLs4~1156Ruhbf5mgZOkG9RHewTorS6J7vmKAb0qDKelRzZtUQ04f8Mpp3UIwVOdLk4FvRJAKcnXhVJZeA8LPbrrXb91CXxs7K5EMjuEulhOapfcqfZYMfmwNqwRfT~cAxHVHvPS8WegTiwEv21uvj-j3WrEGfsVc2I3Upx9HaZrpbw0WuGN8LrsbcsFatOMXVadg0hGWdtXsCs3eqJsmEKcCIlqQwl85UPgMHy1CIkv6m8xNgP68aOVUVtgg2Wop0dmi5~mp7F5hX9z1Q03uIk7v~tGzjejb20KPHF9hKbs3NdPuzeKMcj2YkkdcQgSw0pIFIz0OkBLk5A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Fall River City, MA","date","2025-06-05T05:04:03Z","article","The Fall River City Council's Committee on Finance voted 6–3 on June 4 to refer the proposed fiscal‑year 2026 municipal budget to the full council with a recommendation that it be rejected. The full council held further discussion and then voted to reject the proposed FY26 municipal budget on a roll‑call vote the same evening.

Several council members expressed concern that the proposed budget relied on one‑time revenue sources — most notably a proposed withdrawal from a recently created Diamond stabilization account and projected investment income — to address a projected near‑term health‑insurance gap and other obligations. Councilor Kadeem said she could not support a budget that \"balances\" on one‑time revenue and warned that doing so would create a structural budget deficit in future years. Another councilor described the budget as \"not lean\" and urged a plan with clearer recurring revenues and identified reductions if structural shortfalls persist.

Finance staff and the interim director of finance defended portions of the submission. The administration cited timing constraints and ongoing data collection across enterprise funds, grants and other non‑general-fund entities; staff said some insurance allocations and indirect charges required deeper review. The interim finance director said she had begun work on reallocations and expected to follow up with more detailed proposals but acknowledged that definitive reallocation figures would require additional time to confirm.

Committee chair and full‑council roll calls were recorded. The finance committee's referral recommendation passed 6‑3; the subsequent full council vote to reject passed on a roll call (councilor-level votes were recorded in the meeting minutes).

Why this matters: Rejecting the proposed budget restarts the municipal budget process in a compressed time window during the pre‑fiscal‑year deadline. Councilors signaled they want a version that relies less on one‑time revenue and more on sustainable, recurring funding or explicit, permanent reductions in ongoing expenses.

Ending: Councilors set a schedule of additional hearings the following week and asked administration staff to provide more detailed reconciliations for health‑insurance allocations, indirect cost recoveries and capital‑project funding sources; the council also signaled it expects a revised budget submission in the coming weeks.
","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","6.4.2025 Fall River City Council","oneSentenceSummary","On June 4 the committee on finance voted 6–3 to refer the proposed FY26 municipal budget to the full council with a recommendation to reject; the full council then voted to reject the budget (roll call recorded). Councilors cited reliance on one‑time funds, insurance and collective‑bargaining costs, and the need for a leaner, sustainable budget.","taxTitle","Fall River City, Bristol County, Massachusetts","taxId",4215,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6214374,"Resident and councilors press for investigation into DCM incinerator work tied to APA funding at 10 Lewiston St.",143,998000,1141000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3670638-b270363a77665b99d80f21165e6c87af&start=998&end=1141","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3670638-b270363a77665b99d80f21165e6c87af/thumbnail_998000.jpg","/articles/6214374/Fall-River-City/Bristol-County/Massachusetts/Resident-and-councilors-press-for-investigation-into-DCM-incinerator-work-tied-to-APA-funding-at-10-Lewiston-St","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6214374-1a22edf9c169d8f05bf19efbf8a20917/orig.mp4?Expires=1771044913&Signature=PN0fSlYQPfkmtlRB4qVe-AtcOu~rguC0dRyQB82spnpFodcM5RSjzmvQlhhqfKhu62t-U0k3~C7BorlZApsuxoRJhpvI6t0n4qxnfD2H2ms84iKcFFQWU1aA33wWEUeJ6J~oLGh-CyXcy1ALrhOpI9gQfcPUDtJdALz74kmqSWHAFd3VKyzSC5wWlK8jFDItcUQP06pqqrkSDh8vdtsKxA1h6S~hHppekYeWxODdu~gPE9-oxqMSfwfqwgpNLjA9j2ivC1zxAi00KgfH6HVBEyIfjVDRP4r84yP5Or6wAum8~WN-m6LfoW2fVdvTFcI6DoyqC9QILQLU7IVQv0ESpw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Christopher Peckham, who identified himself during public comment as a follower of the city’s Operation and DCM history, said a recent news report and a private investigator’s document raised questions about alleged hazardous toxins disposed in an incinerator at 10 Lewiston Street.

Peckham said two separate APA line items (identified in his remarks as \"APA 64 and 64a\") total $16,219,213 for work at that location, and asked whether APA funds allocated to DCM had been intended to decontaminate an incinerator area if contamination existed. He asked whether the Department of Environmental Protection had been contacted and whether surrounding homeowners and businesses had been notified of potential hazards. \"I am asking the city council to call upon the mayor's office and the APA committee to freeze this line item within APA until these questions can be answered. The taxpayers should not be footing the bill,\" Peckham said.

A councilor (who identified they had submitted a related resolution) told the public hearing that a resolution to investigate has been filed and is expected to be placed on a June 10 agenda. That councilor said a public, non-private investigation was warranted to resolve possible accusations of fraud or malfeasance referenced in reporting.

Several councilors and staff said redacted and unredacted copies of prior reports had circulated among council members, and some said the unredacted version recently released contained additional information not previously available to all councilors.

Why this matters: Peckham's remarks request an immediate pause to APA-funded work at a site tied to alleged hazardous-waste disposal. Councilors indicated they would consider an investigatory resolution; if the APA funding is paused it could affect capital projects and contractors funded by the APA allocations.

Ending: A councilor told the meeting that a formal resolution had been filed and would be considered at the next council meeting; the mayor's office and APA committee were asked to provide a clear accounting of the funds and any remediation plans.
","Christopher Peckham urged the council to freeze APA funding tied to 10 Lewiston Street and asked that the mayor and the APA committee answer questions about alleged hazardous disposal and decontamination. A councilor said a resolution to investigate has been filed for a future meeting.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6214378,"Retired Fall River fire chief urges council to press state to use cannabis revenue for station repairs",630,195000,825000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3670638-b270363a77665b99d80f21165e6c87af&start=195&end=825","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3670638-b270363a77665b99d80f21165e6c87af/thumbnail_195000.jpg","/articles/6214378/Fall-River-City/Bristol-County/Massachusetts/Retired-Fall-River-fire-chief-urges-council-to-press-state-to-use-cannabis-revenue-for-station-repairs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6214378-0a62e0e6256ee7b1dc01dc99bb868795/orig.mp4?Expires=1771044913&Signature=o4MO8HTlKOpUk25AjxDTQSSOQgvDRaATNDqx7V7qjqdToeP9vdsTVHdCtVJnrPP~5rONBUmC9IxoFJbbKjQpd~6pfHNo~AiRFJbEBv4jHmC9yLbtpPr3a065ftdFcnJt0sHMQTG52nFnklKxuLqhiFP~Uf85Hw4-sGCk5wEqvY~T9-qE3Dwovg0fWl7-cJiDPKdMxf9grj1rAqTc8EH-3Eqepuendwh3Askhb~G6d3HdT1kRKjCaVnQeh2v~D1Hu8ZDUIVMqEk7Uzw5w4qaHH5xpp7ElV6imP60eudKFl4L1oDig1SgVmOP2F94feOgtCQEAfoGrIiV9Klvil4wYEA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","John D. Lynch, a retired Fall River firefighter, used his allotted public-comment time at the June 4 meeting to urge the city council to press regional legislators to back a proposed state fund for fire station repairs and construction. Lynch cited an initiative being advocated on Beacon Hill by a retired Westwood chief and the Fire Chiefs Association of Massachusetts that would create a station‑construction/repair fund financed in part by cannabis tax revenue.

\"What about all this cannabis money we have? Why can't we use some of that cannabis money to create a fund...to help all these cities and towns that have stations that are in deplorable conditions?\" Lynch asked, urging the council to \"contact our local legislators\" and back the effort.

Lynch stressed that while station repairs are urgent, apparatus replacement and staffing are more critical. \"Stations is dire and need and not as important as apparatus replacement. And most important of all, adequate staffing,\" he said, adding that equipment and buildings are ineffective without sufficient personnel on the front lines.

The council temporarily extended Lynch's public‑comment time by unanimous voice vote to allow him to finish; he concluded by imploring the council to prioritize staffing and to seek legislative help for funding.

Why this matters: Lynch combined a near-term funding proposal (use of cannabis revenue for building funds) with a staffing warning that underscores the operational needs behind capital investments: councilors may need to weigh building repairs against recurring staffing and apparatus-replacement budgets.

Ending: Lynch asked councilors to follow up with state representatives and to continue treating public-safety funding as a top priority.","Retired Chief John D. Lynch urged the council during public comment to ask local legislators to support legislation that would use state cannabis tax revenue to fund fire-station construction and repairs; he also emphasized staffing and apparatus replacement as higher priorities than buildings alone.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6214382,"Fall River police outline hiring, overtime reductions and capital needs during budget hearing",5986,1514000,7500000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3670638-b270363a77665b99d80f21165e6c87af&start=1514&end=7500","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3670638-b270363a77665b99d80f21165e6c87af/thumbnail_1514000.jpg","/articles/6214382/Fall-River-City/Bristol-County/Massachusetts/Fall-River-police-outline-hiring-overtime-reductions-and-capital-needs-during-budget-hearing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6214382-af195698b8280dab7dbf928798338fbb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771044913&Signature=QHcm1R4Y4O1CufW8IyaifShySwK-7CzxeASx3y2Z0r-~Uls~rimb5BY7onqVQwPMrFOloU4y1AQtwkHmNRNHp-Q9Hf5FlYxq2ZUA2S3Es5OjAoyw0x1zNeZfVqmD2N4-qsSSZwhWuSDDj-fjmHfHhdhDdf5mb5yCDqOrfKIKrTWaDvEq7ARBSqqkBoa2yeRuXdxc3G4LPVuIr9syYuFrNh43f-SjPkroq1xeku47kr5jiidR739uICzURhfwjk~gkZ58ek16~XYH7rnTb8Nt0xAUqnifItIH~ArCbO0Hh77Bp2aNQIJomQxSh4IbHH1Myf8mYIp6PTJceGiDuflFTg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chief Kelly Furtado, chief of police, told Fall River City Councilors at a June 4 finance hearing that the department currently has 16 patrol vacancies but expects substantial new classes: \"we have 14 in the academy right now\" and additional groups slated for August and October. She said those hires, plus use of the federal COPS hiring grant, are expected to reduce overtime costs and bring staffing back toward the department's target for patrol strength.

Councilors pressed the chief on numbers and timelines. Furtado told Councilor Dionne that she expects \"by the end of the year, at least 20 to 22\" of the roughly 24 vacancies to be filled, and explained some of the overtime reductions already achieved: changing in-service training scheduling and using acting supervisors reduced payouts and she said the department saved roughly $232,910 in one period by those steps.

The chief described a multi-pronged approach to lowering overtime: tighter minimum-manning protocols, bringing some outside-detail administration back in-house (which recaptured an administrative fee the department had previously paid to a vendor), and operational changes such as reducing vacation backfill slots. On the COPS hiring grant she said the city has an award of $2,375,000 and \"once [open vacancies are] filled, then the COPS hiring grant... will open that up to us.\" She cautioned the grant cannot be used to supplant currently funded positions.

Furtado and staff also detailed several internal revenue and cost-offset streams tied to police operations. The department reported recovering roughly $336,000 in recent years from an added \"cruiser fee\" on certain paid details; Sergeant Delas said the cruiser fee is $17 per hour on assignments that require a marked cruiser and has generated roughly $200,000–$336,000 over two fiscal years. The department said it used that revolving detail revenue to purchase at least one replacement cruiser and expects the fee to help fund further cruiser replacements.

On equipment and capital needs, Furtado listed priorities that she and staff have included in a capital plan: replacement marked cruisers (upfitted cost about $63,000 apiece), evidence-room shelving and reconfiguration (about $60,000), and an upgrade to departmental firearms and related holsters/sites (\"a couple hundred thousand dollars,\" per the chief). She said the department had six marked cruisers on order using ARPA funds and noted that the department historically aimed to replace five cruisers per year to maintain fleet readiness.

Furtado described routine line-item changes in the operating budget: a new medical-supplies line at $24,098 for supplies such as first-aid/ambulatory gear, and moving hazardous-waste contract costs into a professional-services line previously miscategorized. She said the bulletproof-vest line was reduced because purchases are substantially reimbursable: \"when we purchased a bulletproof vest... we have a 100% reimbursement.\" The department expects occasional exceptions when a replacement falls inside the five‑year reimbursement window.

Councilors pressed Furtado about specialty units and non‑patrol staffing: the department budgets for environmental police, harbor master services, and walking‑beat/CDA-funded positions. Furtado said the environmental unit will be at five budgeted positions (one graduating tomorrow, another class slated for August) and that the CDA-funded \"walking beats\" are targeted patrols in housing authority areas. She also described challenges retaining dispatchers and competing with nearby towns for those hires.

On community safety programs, the chief said SRO (school resource officer) coverage is intended to include two officers at the high school level and one at each middle school; she said one SRO position had been disrupted by pregnancy/leave but that the department plans to restore the complement.

Council members repeatedly asked for a clear, multi-year capital plan tying cruiser replacements to identified funding sources. Councilor Ponte asked for a concise list of capital priorities that the council can advocate for; the chief said the department already had submitted a capital list and will provide a consolidated \"wish list\" and near-term priorities to the council.

Why this matters: Patrol staffing, overtime, and capital funding affect daily public safety service levels and the city's long-term maintenance costs. Councilors signaled they want the department's needs to be matched to predictable funding sources rather than ad-hoc or one-time revenue.

Ending: Furtado said the department will continue to push hiring and operational changes, and councilors requested a short, items-based capital plan showing exact costs and recommended funding sources for cruisers, evidence-room upgrades and firearms replacement so they can include those items in the municipal capital process.

Quotes used in this article come from the meeting transcript and are attributed only to speakers who appear in the transcript.
","Police Chief Kelly Furtado told city councilors the department expects dozens of new officers from upcoming academies, plans to cut overtime through staffing and program changes, and is seeking capital funding for cruisers, evidence-room shelving and firearms upgrades; councilors pressed for clearer long-term capital and staffing plans.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council committee and full council vote to reject Fall River FY26 municipal budget; members cite one‑time funding and structural concerns

Resident and councilors press for investigation into DCM incinerator work tied to APA funding at 10 Lewiston St.

Retired Fall River fire chief urges council to press state to use cannabis revenue for station repairs

Fall River police outline hiring, overtime reductions and capital needs during budget hearing