The Fall River City Council approved a revised fiscal year 2027 municipal budget on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, during a special meeting. The final vote on the revised budget was 8-1, with Councilor Christopher M. Peckham, Sr. voting in opposition.
Approval of the budget followed a recess during which Director of Financial Services Emily Arpke drafted a new appropriation order. This adjustment addressed concerns over a $450,000 funding gap in school transportation. The compromise reduced the city’s Reserve Fund allocation by $450,000 and moved those funds to school transportation, matching the School Committee’s voted total of $17,000,000.
In other business, the council approved a Memorandum of Agreement with Mayor Paul E. Coogan regarding outside legal counsel in an 8-1 vote, with Councilor Christopher M. Peckham, Sr. dissenting. Additionally, the council voted unanimously to adopt a salary amendment ordinance for the Director of Health and Human Services.
Key actions
- Approved the Memorandum of Agreement with Mayor Paul E. Coogan regarding outside legal counsel, 8-1
- Voted to waive council rules to allow administration and School Department officials to answer budget questions
- Approved a motion requesting the administration reduce the Reserve Fund by $450,000 to cover the school transportation funding deficit
- Adopted the revised Fiscal Year 2027 Municipal Budget General Fund Appropriation Order, 8-1
- Granted leave to withdraw the second revised Fiscal Year 2027 July Continuing Appropriation Order
- Rejected the second revised Fiscal Year 2027 July Continuing Appropriation Order to ensure budgetary clarity
- Accepted and placed on file a communication regarding the City Council policy on the use of outside legal counsel
- Voted to reconsider the July 14, 2026 vote on the proposed salary amendment ordinance for the Director of Health and Human Services
- Passed the salary amendment ordinance for the Director of Health and Human Services through second reading and enrollment, as amended
- Ordained the salary amendment ordinance for the Director of Health and Human Services, as amended
How each councilor voted
| Motion | Ponte | Dionne | Cadime | Camara | Canuel | Hart | Peckham | Pereira | Raposo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adopt Memorandum of Agreement regarding outside legal counsel (Approved 8-1) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y |
| Waive rules to allow administration and school department to answer questions (Approved unanimously) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Adopt revised Proposed Fiscal Year 2027 Municipal Budget General Fund Appropriation Order (Approved 8-1) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y |
| Grant leave to withdraw Proposed Fiscal Year 2027 July Continuing Appropriation Order (Approved unanimously) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Reject Proposed Fiscal Year 2027 July Continuing Appropriation Order (Approved unanimously) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Accept and file policy on the use of outside legal counsel (Approved unanimously) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Reconsider previous vote on proposed salary amendment ordinance for Director of Health and Human Services (Approved unanimously) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Pass proposed salary amendment ordinance through second reading and enrollment, as amended (Approved unanimously) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Pass proposed salary amendment ordinance to be ordained, as amended (Approved unanimously) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
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.