Fall River planners present FY26 municipal budget with large one-time increases, zero-based cuts to departments

Interim Director of Financial Services Emily Arp presented an overview of Fall River’s proposed fiscal year 2026 municipal budget to the City Council Committee of Finance on May 27, saying the administration returned to zero‑based budgeting and identified $16,200,000 in specific increases while excluding new general‑fund capital purchases.

Arp said the operating budget as proposed contains debt service and recurring assessments but “there is no capital in the general‑fund operating budget at this point.” She told councilors the administration will submit a capital improvement plan in early‑to‑late fall that will include projected funding sources for FY26. The budget presentation also assumes only step increases and existing contractual raises in personnel lines because many bargaining…