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Ponte: Unless we act, tax increase beginning next year will be over 5% per year for at least 7 years
Fall River City Council President Cliff Ponte issued a letter to the City’s finance teams and the School Department Thursday concerning what Ponte feels is a tax rate for residents and businesses that is not sustainable. The two sides are scheduled to meet on April 13th to review the fiscal and financial condition of the City in preparation for the upcoming budget.
“As we approach the joint meeting with the School Committee and the respective finance teams — As one Councilor, I would like to bring to your attention the following:
Currently the city pays for all capital projects. These projects are not included in minimum net school spending. The state education aid formula has given the Fall River Schools on average 8 million dollars in increased aid each and every year.
“While state aid to the city has not increased at the same level, the taxpayers in the City of Fall River simply cannot afford the continued and upcoming increases.
“Therefore, we need to have the school department join us as partners in funding all projects moving forward. I have made this point very clear to the Administration of the city and the School Department over the past year.
“The funding schedule for the new Durfee High School as presented to the voters called for 3.6 million dollars in a debt exclusion ( our tax bills) starting in July of 2022 ( Fiscal Year 2023) through Fiscal Year 2029. Our current tax levy ( 2.5% increase in overall taxes) yields a 2.8 million dollar increase. This means that unless we act to mitigate this issue, the taxpayer increase next year will be over 5% per year for at least 7 years. This is not sustainable for our citizens, taxpayers and business community.
Some Budget Priorities going into joint meeting and budget discussions:
1. Utilize all revenue sources to eliminate the need for a debt exclusion – Looking at both the 70+ million from Federal Government and School 40+ million ESSER Funds.
2. Work with the Mayor and the School Committee in partnership to fund any future capital projects responsibly keeping in mind the revenue limitations on the city side of government.
I look forward to having a healthy debate about this at our joint meeting.”
Best,
Cliff Ponte
City Council President
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Mortis Maximus
April 2, 2021 at 1:33 pm
Fall River is a long term and complete $hithole. Nothing will change unless Fall River’s system of government is allowed to fail. It’s not just the schools causing financial destruction upon the citizenry. Fall River spends over 40 million dollars a year for employee healthcare alone. Doom and Gloom is the reality for Fall River and I have said such for years. Bankruptcy is the only viable option to save Fall River. Sustainability of the current economic status of Fall River will never be a reality, because Fall River is overflowing with non-contributors. I forsee the current “Democratic” type of government we are being sold as the major factor in Fall River’s failure. We the people were given a Republic form of government with limited powers over the people, we have strayed too far from this ideal. Cliff please realize that the current state of Fall River finance will require a complete restart,to begin with the dissolution of “Fall River” the corporation. Funny that Amazon Corp. was given a $30 million dollar property tax freebee as the regular property owners are faced with this crisis. Great work Kenny Fiola and the former FROED board,your vision for Fall River’s future was a spot on failure.
Disgusted Taxpayer in Fall River
June 22, 2021 at 10:23 pm
Agreed. Those of us paying all the taxes for everyone else are sick of it. Use some of the government’s handout funds to incentivize the people who actually have had to pay to make all the benefits available to all the people who wouldn’t take jobs at Amazon. We are also the ones that paid Federal taxes that again will go to everyone else and now we “get” to pay even more to stay here in this joke of a city that is crime ridden and unemployed and has been for years. You are going to see a mass exodus soon of your golden taxpayers if these politicians can’t turn this around. Everyone needs to start pulling their own weight here, it can’t be just some of us continuing to do this for them and I know I won’t be much longer unless my taxes go down and improvements start happening that actually benefit me. We’ve already seen what has happened at a national level. People were so well paid to be unemployed they caused a labor shortage because they made more not working. They have to now be rewarded to actually get a job. Then we all get to pay higher prices as companies pass this along to us along with the new wages to take effect soon. I am out of money and I don’t see anything good here unless things change soon. I can’t afford to. Use the funds wisely, we are watching, and remember, all of you are supposed to work for our best interests. Hard to imagine after Jasiel debacle on what should be bringing in substantial tax money. Maybe start with renegotiating the Amazon tax situation so it actually pays its own way…problem solved!
Mikey Morty
April 2, 2021 at 1:37 pm
Fire Mary Sahady today Mr. Coogan, she is complicit in this fiscal failure…
david
April 2, 2021 at 11:37 pm
the new Durfee High School is a disgusting boondoogle. Not needed. the old building could of received a major renovation. The current Durfee was built in 1978, but has to be replaced in 2020 in a City where the majority of commercial and residential buildings still in use were built in 1900?
The heck with the rotten schools; a big joke; a teacher’s union jobs program. Give every kid an ipad and send them home. in 2021 you gotta sit in a classroom and listen to some fat, burned out slob ‘teach’ social studies when you can learn how to construct a nuke weapon on Youtube? gimme a break with these pathetic schools.