Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the City Payments topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
TMLP approves voluntary payment in lieu and $12.87 million in city employee benefits/overhead for FY2025
Summary
Commissioners approved a voluntary payment in lieu of taxes and voted to remit $12,870,698.43 for debt service, employee benefits and city overhead for fiscal year 2025; the mayor requested $2,995,000 but the motion recorded $2,000,995.
At its Dec. 3 meeting, the Taunton Municipal Light Plant approved two fiscal items requested by the City of Taunton: a voluntary payment in lieu of taxes and the city’s employee benefits and overhead charges for fiscal year 2025.
A letter from Mayor Sean O'Connor O'Connell requested a voluntary payment in lieu (PILOT) of $2,995,000 for FY2025 and asked that the item be scheduled on the next commission agenda. During the meeting, a motion was made to make a payment in lieu of taxes for $2,000,995 for FY2025; commissioners discussed timing and clarified the payment schedule (payments split between December and the following June). The transcript records the motion amount as $2,000,995 and commissioners voted to approve the motion. The letter from the mayor and the motion contain different dollar amounts; staff described the payment as voluntary.
Separately, Chief Financial Officer Patrick D'Alessio submitted the city’s request to have TMLP vote on employee benefits, debt service and overhead costs. The submission listed debt service principal and interest ($2,450,004.04), employee benefits (group insurance, Medicare, retirement totaling $10,148,916.26) and city overhead ($271,778.13) for a total of $12,870,698.43. Commissioners characterized this as an annual bill (bonds and debt service) and approved the payment by voice vote.
Both motions were approved without recorded opposition. The commission requested staff to follow up on the timing of the mayor’s letter, which arrived later than usual this year.
