Fall River City Councilor Christopher Peckham expresses concerns over city’s fiscal condition after approval to purchase former Bishop Connolly for $28 million

Fall River City Councilor Christopher Peckham has released the following statement concerning his no vote after the City Council approved by a vote of 7-1 the $28 million loan order for the former Bishop Connolly property.

“I would like to begin by stating that I fully support providing the best possible educational opportunities for the children of Fall River.

Every child deserves access to safe, modern, and effective learning environments, and I appreciate the efforts of those who have worked diligently to identify solutions that address the city’s educational needs.

However, after carefully reviewing the financial realities facing our city, I could not support the purchase of the former Bishop Connolly High School property.

My opposition is not rooted in the value of education, nor is it a reflection of the dedicated educators, administrators, or students who stand to benefit from additional educational space. Rather, my concern is based entirely on the fiscal condition of the City of Fall River and our responsibility to taxpayers.

The City is currently facing significant financial challenges. We continue to struggle to balance our budget while confronting rising costs associated with municipal services, infrastructure maintenance, and major long-term obligations. Before taking on additional expenditures, I believe we must first ensure that our existing obligations can be met responsibly.

Among those obligations is the new Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School project, which will significantly increase Fall River’s annual financial burden. While the project is not associated with the City’s debt service, Fall River’s share of the construction cost is expected to be approximately $4.5 million annually and is projected to exceed $10.2 million per year when per-student costs are factored in.

At the same time, there remains uncertainty regarding the true population being served by city services. Both the state and the City have acknowledged that accurately estimating our population remains a challenge. The larger the population, the greater the demand placed on municipal services and infrastructure.

Roads, water infrastructure, sewer systems, public safety, and schools all experience increased strain as population grows. Yet we continue to make substantial financial commitments without a complete understanding of the long-term impact on taxpayers and city resources. This comes at a time when our police officers, firefighters, and other frontline personnel continue to face increasing demands on their services. In my opinion, a brand-new fire and police combination station would have been a more appropriate investment.

Government has a responsibility to distinguish between what is desirable and what is affordable. While the acquisition of the Bishop Connolly property may provide opportunities, I believe the City’s immediate focus should be on stabilizing its finances, maintaining core services, addressing critical infrastructure needs, and ensuring that future obligations can be met without placing additional burdens on residents.

I also understand the state’s mandate to educate children ages 3 through 5, My question is simple: How are we going to continue to pay for it? The idea is great. The circumstances, not so much. Before we take on additional financial obligations, we need to have an honest conversation about how we’re going to fund them without placing an even greater burden on taxpayers. 

I sincerely hope this purchase proves successful and beneficial to the students of Fall River. Nothing would make me happier than to be proven wrong about the financial concerns I have raised, because our children deserve nothing less than success. My vote was not cast against our children—it was cast in support of fiscal responsibility and the long-term financial health of our city.

Those who have committed their lives to Fall River should be able to retire here. If something does not change soon, I do not believe that will remain a realistic possibility for many of our residents.

As always, I remain committed to asking difficult questions, protecting taxpayers, and ensuring that every public dollar is spent wisely.”