The Fall River City Council at a special meeting on June 3, 2026, rejected the proposed Fiscal Year 2027 Municipal Budget and the Fiscal Year 2027 Emergency Medical Services Enterprise Fund Budget. The only exceptions were the G1 School Appropriation and G3 Education Assessment, which were approved by a voice vote.
The Council then proceeded to recommend several reductions to the budget. A motion to reduce line item B1, Administrative Services, Salaries, by $100,000, passed 7 yeas to 1 nay, with Councilor Hart voting against and Councilor Camara present. Another motion to reduce line item B2, Administrative Services, Expenses, by $200,000, passed 7 yeas to 2 nays, with Councilors Camara and Hart voting in the negative. The Council also voted unanimously to recommend a $70,000 reduction to line item C1, Financial Services, Salaries, and a $36,306.71 reduction to line item F1, Community Services, Salaries.
Regarding the Emergency Medical Services Enterprise Fund Budget, a motion to reject EMS Salaries passed 5 yeas to 4 nays. A motion to reject EMS Expenses, Capital, Transfers (Indirect Costs), and Debt passed 7 yeas to 2 nays.
Other significant actions included the unanimous decision to vote on the appropriation order by line item. The Council also voted to reject line item A1 for Mayor, Salaries (6 yeas, 3 nays, with Councilors Camara, Hart, and Pereira voting in the negative) and to reject line items A2-A10, Mayor, Expenses; City Council, Salaries; City Council, Expenses; City Clerk, Salaries; City Clerk, Expenses; Elections, Salaries; Elections, Expenses; Veterans’ Benefits, Salaries; and Veterans’ Benefits, Expenses (7 yeas, 2 nays, with Councilors Camara and Hart voting in the negative). A motion to approve items H1-H8 for Police, Salaries and Expenses, Harbor Master, Salaries and Expenses, and Fire & Emergency Services, Salaries and Expenses, failed 3 yeas to 6 nays, with Councilors Camara, Hart, and Pereira voting in the affirmative. A subsequent motion to reject the same items passed 6 yeas to 3 nays, with Councilors Camara, Hart, and Pereira voting in the negative.
Key actions
- Voted unanimously to vote on the appropriation order by line item
- Rejected line item A1 for Mayor, Salaries (6 yeas, 3 nays)
- Voted unanimously to take line items A2 through A10, Mayor, Expenses; City Council, Salaries; City Council, Expenses; City Clerk, Salaries; City Clerk, Expenses; Elections, Salaries; Elections, Expenses; Veterans’ Benefits, Salaries; and Veterans’ Benefits, Expenses, together
- Rejected line items A2 through A10, Mayor, Expenses; City Council, Salaries; City Council, Expenses; City Clerk, Salaries; City Clerk, Expenses; Elections, Salaries; Elections, Expenses; Veterans’ Benefits, Salaries; and Veterans’ Benefits, Expenses (7 yeas, 2 nays)
- Voted unanimously to take line items B1 through B3, Administrative Services, Salaries; Administrative Services, Expenses; Judgements and Claims, respectively, together
- Rejected line items B1 through B3, Administrative Services, Salaries; Administrative Services, Expenses; and Judgements and Claims (8 yeas, 1 nay)
- Rejected line item C1 for Financial Services, Salaries (9 yeas)
- Rejected line item C2 For Financial Services, Expenses (9 yeas)
- Voted unanimously to take line items D1 through D3, Facilities, Salaries; Facilities, Expenses; and Facilities, Capital, respectively, together
- Voted unanimously to reject line items D1 through D3, Facilities, Salaries; Facilities, Expenses; and Facilities, Capital, respectively
- Voted unanimously to take line items E1 through E3, Community Maintenance, Salaries; Community Maintenance, Expenses; and Community Maintenance, Capital, respectively, together
- Voted unanimously to reject line items E1 through E3, Community Maintenance, Salaries; Community Maintenance, Expenses; and Community Maintenance, Capital, respectively
- Voted unanimously to take line items F1 through F3, Community Services, Salaries; Community Services, Expenses; and Community Services, Transfers, respectively, together
- Voted unanimously to reject line items F1 through F3, Community Services, Salaries; Community Services, Expenses; and Community Services, Transfers, respectively
- Approved line item G1 for School Appropriation unanimously
- Rejected line item G2 for School Transportation unanimously
- Approved line item G3 for Education Assessments unanimously
- Voted unanimously to take items H1 through H8, Police, Salaries; Police, Expenses; Police, Capital; Harbor Master, Salaries; Harbor Master, Expenses; Fire & Emergency Services, Salaries; Fire & Emergency Services, Expenses; and Fire & Emergency Services, Capital, respectively, together
- Approved items H1 through H8, Police, Salaries; Police, Expenses; Police, Capital; Harbor Master, Salaries; Harbor Master, Expenses; Fire & Emergency Services, Salaries; Fire & Emergency Services, Expenses; and Fire & Emergency Services, Capital, failed to carry (3 yeas, 6 nays)
- Rejected items H1 through H8, Police, Salaries; Police, Expenses; Police, Capital; Harbor Master, Salaries; Harbor Master, Expenses; Fire & Emergency Services, Salaries; Fire & Emergency Services, Expenses; and Fire & Emergency Services, Capital (6 yeas, 3 nays)
- Voted unanimously to reject I1, Debt – Service
- Voted unanimously to reject I2, Insurance
- Voted unanimously to reject I3, Pension Contributions
- Voted unanimously to reject I4, Reserve Fund
- Recommended that the Administration reduce line item B1, Administrative, Services, Salaries, by $100,000 (7 yeas, 1 nay)
- Recommended that the Administration reduce line item B2, Administrative, Expenses, by $200,000 (7 yeas, 2 nays)
- Recommended that the Administration reduce line item C1, Financial Services, Salaries, by $70,000 (9 yeas)
- Recommended that the Administration reduce line item F1, Community Services, Salaries, by $36,306.71 (9 yeas)
- Recommended that the Administration reduce line item F2, Community Services, Expenses (identified during the meeting as E2, Community Maintenance, Expenses), by $15,000 (5 yeas, 3 nays, 1 absent)
- Recommended that the Administration reduce line item F1, Community Services, Salaries, by $1,675 (7 yeas, 2 nays)
- Voted unanimously to recommend that the Administration reduce line item D1, Facilities, Salaries, by $104,809.34
- Recommended that the Administration reduce line item D1, Facilities, Salaries, by $100,940 (5 yeas, 4 nays)
- Motion to waive the rules to allow representatives from the Administration to answer questions was made and seconded by Councilor Canuel (outcome not recorded)
- Recommended that the Administration reduce line item D2, Facilities, Expenses, by $742,133, failed to carry (2 yeas, 6 nays, 1 present)
- Recommended that the Administration reduce line item E2, Community Maintenance, Expenses, by $257,867, failed to carry (2 yeas, 6 nays, 1 absent)
- Recommended that the Administration reduce D1, Facilities, Salaries, by $13,000 (6 yeas, 3 nays)
- Recommended that the Administration reduce F1, Community Services, Salaries, by $14,877, failed to carry (4 yeas, 5 nays)
- Rejected line item A1, EMS, Salaries (6 yeas, 3 nays)
- Voted unanimously to take line items A2 through A5, EMS, Expenses; EMS, Capital; EMS, Transfers (Indirect Costs); and EMS, Debt, respectively, together
- Rejected line items A2 through A5, EMS, Expenses; EMS, Capital; EMS, Transfers (Indirect Costs); and EMS, Debt, respectively (7 yeas, 2 nays)
How each councilor voted
| Motion | Ponte | Cadime | Dionne | Camara | Peckham | Canuel | Dionne | Raposo | Pereira | Hart |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vote on the appropriation order line-item by line-item (Carried unanimously) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Reject line item A1 for Mayor, Salaries (Rejected 6-3) | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | N |
| Take line items A2 through A10, Mayor, Expenses; City Council, Salaries; City Council, Expenses; City Clerk, Salaries; City Clerk, Expenses; Elections, Salaries; Elections, Expenses; Veterans’ Benefits, Salaries; and Veterans’ Benefits, Expenses, together (Carried unanimously) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Reject line items A2 through A10, Mayor, Expenses; City Council, Salaries; City Council, Expenses; City Clerk, Salaries; City Clerk, Expenses; Elections, Salaries; Elections, Expenses; Veterans’ Benefits, Salaries; and Veterans’ Benefits, Expenses (Rejected 7-2) | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N |
| Take line items B1 through B3, Administrative Services, Salaries; Administrative Services, Expenses; Judgements and Claims, respectively, together (Carried unanimously) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Reject line items B1 through B3, Administrative Services, Salaries; Administrative Services, Expenses; and Judgements and Claims (Rejected 8-1) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N |
| Reject line item C1 for Financial Services, Salaries (Rejected 9-0) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Reject line item C2 For Financial Services, Expenses (Rejected 9-0) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Take line items D1 through D3, Facilities, Salaries; Facilities, Expenses; and Facilities, Capital, respectively, together (Carried unanimously) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Reject line items D1 through D3, Facilities, Salaries; Facilities, Expenses; and Facilities, Capital, respectively (Carried unanimously) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Take line items E1 through E3, Community Maintenance, Salaries; Community Maintenance, Expenses; and Community Maintenance, Capital, respectively, together (Carried unanimously) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Reject line items E1 through E3, Community Maintenance, Salaries; Community Maintenance, Expenses; and Community Maintenance, Capital, respectively (Carried unanimously) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Take line items F1 through F3, Community Services, Salaries; Community Services, Expenses; and Community Services, Transfers, respectively, together (Carried unanimously) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Reject line items F1 through F3, Community Services, Salaries; Community Services, Expenses; and Community Services, Transfers, respectively (Carried unanimously) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Approve line item G1 for School Appropriation (Carried unanimously) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Reject line item G2 for School Transportation (Carried unanimously) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Approve line item G3 for Education Assessments (Carried unanimously) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Take items H1 through H8, Police, Salaries; Police, Expenses; Police, Capital; Harbor Master, Salaries; Harbor Master, Expenses; Fire & Emergency Services, Salaries; Fire & Emergency Services, Expenses; and Fire & Emergency Services, Capital, respectively, together (Carried unanimously) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Approve items H1 through H8, Police, Salaries; Police, Expenses; Police, Capital; Harbor Master, Salaries; Harbor Master, Expenses; Fire & Emergency Services, Salaries; Fire & Emergency Services, Expenses; and Fire & Emergency Services, Capital (Failed 3-6) | N | N | N | Y | N | N | N | N | Y | Y |
| Reject items H1 through H8, Police, Salaries; Police, Expenses; Police, Capital; Harbor Master, Salaries; Harbor Master, Expenses; Fire & Emergency Services, Salaries; Fire & Emergency Services, Expenses; and Fire & Emergency Services, Capital (Rejected 6-3) | N | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | N |
| Reject I1, Debt – Service (Carried unanimously) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Reject I2, Insurance (Carried unanimously) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Reject I3, Pension Contributions (Carried unanimously) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Reject I4, Reserve Fund (Carried unanimously) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Recommend that the Administration reduce line item B1, Administrative, Services, Salaries, by $100,000 (Approved 7-1, 1 present) | Y | Y | Y | P | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N |
| Recommend that the Administration reduce line item B2, Administrative, Expenses, by $200,000 (Approved 7-2) | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N |
| Recommend that the Administration reduce line item C1, Financial Services, Salaries, by $70,000 (Approved 9-0) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Recommend that the Administration reduce line item F1, Community Services, Salaries, by $36,306.71 (Approved 9-0) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Recommend that the Administration reduce line item F2, Community Services, Expenses (identified during the meeting as E2, Community Maintenance, Expenses), by $15,000 (Approved 5-3, 1 absent) | Y | Y | Y | N | — | Y | Y | Y | N | N |
| Recommend that the Administration reduce line item F1, Community Services, Salaries, by $1,675 (Approved 7-2) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | N |
| Recommend that the Administration reduce line item D1, Facilities, Salaries, by $104,809.34 (Carried unanimously) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Recommend that the Administration reduce line item D1, Facilities, Salaries, by $100,940 (Approved 5-4) | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | N | N | N |
| Waive the rules to allow representatives from the Administration to answer questions (Outcome not recorded) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Recommend that the Administration reduce line item D2, Facilities, Expenses, by $742,133 (Failed 2-6, 1 present) | Y | N | N | N | Y | P | N | N | N | N |
| Recommend that the Administration reduce line item E2, Community Maintenance, Expenses, by $257,867 (Failed 2-6, 1 absent) | Y | Y | N | N | Y | N | N | N | — | N |
| Recommend that the Administration reduce D1, Facilities, Salaries, by $13,000 (Approved 6-3) | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | N |
| Recommend that the Administration reduce F1, Community Services, Salaries, by $14,877 (Failed 4-5) | Y | Y | N | N | Y | N | N | Y | N | N |
| Reject line item A1, EMS, Salaries (Rejected 6-3) | N | N | N | N | Y | Y | N | Y | N | N |
| Take line items A2 through A5, EMS, Expenses; EMS, Capital; EMS, Transfers (Indirect Costs); and EMS, Debt, respectively, together (Carried unanimously) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Reject line items A2 through A5, EMS, Expenses; EMS, Capital; EMS, Transfers (Indirect Costs); and EMS, Debt, respectively (Rejected 7-2) | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N |
Y = yes · N = no · A = abstained · P = present · — = absent. Votes the minutes do not record individually are inferred from the result and the attendance roll.