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Committee approves referral to increase health department compliance revolving fund to $60,000
Summary
The New Bedford Committee on Finance voted to refer to the full City Council an order from Mayor Mitchell to raise the Health Department's compliance programs revolving fund limit to $60,000 for FY2026, citing uncertainty in grant funding for tobacco and new alcohol compliance work.
The New Bedford Committee on Finance voted to refer to the full City Council an order from Mayor Mitchell to authorize a $60,000 limit for the Health Department and Compliance Programs revolving fund for fiscal year 2026.
Committee Chair Linda Morad said the item was submitted under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 44, ' 53E 1/2 and that the requested amount is $10,000 higher than the prior year. The committee voted to receive the order and to refer it to the full City Council for adoption.
The administration's presenter, Stephanie (Health Department), told the committee the increase responds to uncertainty in grant funding that previously covered part of the department's compliance and education work. She said a community-education grant that accompanied tobacco compliance checks was not renewed this year, and the Health Department may need to use revolving-fund resources to cover that education role. The department has also applied for grant funding to start alcohol compliance checks with the police department but said it will stand up the alcohol program even if the grant is not awarded because staff have observed an increase in alcohol-related problems in the city.
Councilor Joseph Lopes asked for estimated costs for the programs; Stephanie said she would provide cost estimates to the clerk. Councilor Ryan Perera asked how revenue for the revolving account is generated; Stephanie said the account is funded by fines from compliance checks (for example, sales to minors and sales of flavored products that are not allowed in Massachusetts). Treasurer/finance staff noted the fund currently has a balance of about $105,000 carried forward from prior years, and that unspent appropriations roll into the next fiscal year when revenues exceed the spending cap.
The motion to refer the order to the full City Council for adoption was made by Councilor Perera, seconded by Councilor Oliver, and approved with the ayes prevailing.
The item will appear on the September 25 City Council agenda for final action.
