The Fall River City Council met on November 19, 2019, beginning with a public hearing on the fiscal year 2020 property tax factor. Mike O’Sullivan, president of the Bristol County Chamber of Commerce, and commercial property owner Carl Hetzler spoke against placing an excessive tax burden on commercial properties, pointing out that Fall River’s commercial tax rate of $31.36 per thousand was among the highest in Massachusetts and had increased 92% since 2008. They advocated for gradually reducing the tax shift toward the minimum allowed by the state.
Following the hearing, the council held a special meeting where resident Louise Fascio and representative Bill Teixeira addressed flooding and drainage issues on Whitefield Street. They reported that city stormwater and runoff from neighboring developments built by contractor Jamie Duff were being diverted onto Fascio’s private parcel, rendering the buildable land unusable. The council discussed subdivision accountability and voted to adopt a resolution referring the Whitefield Street flooding matter to the Committee on Real Estate to convene city officials, developers, residents, and state legislators.
In formal business, the council approved two enterprise fund transfers: $440,000 from Water Enterprise Fund free cash to the water operating budget, and $1,225,000 from Sewer Enterprise Fund free cash to the sewer operating budget. The council then heard from the Board of Assessors and debated the fiscal year 2020 tax classification, ultimately approving a tax shift of 1.71 (resulting in a commercial tax rate of approximately $30.86 per thousand) as well as the adoption of the fiscal year 2020 tax levy.
Topics discussed
- 3:57 · FY 2020 Tax Factor Public Hearing
Chamber of Commerce President Mike O’Sullivan and business owner Carl Hetzler urged the council to reduce the commercial tax burden and avoid the maximum 1.75 tax factor. - 17:40 · Whitefield Street Drainage and Flooding Issues — approved
Louise Fascio and Bill Teixeira described how stormwater runoff from newer developments and city-installed pipes rendered Fascio’s buildable lot unbuildable. - 36:55 · Water Enterprise Fund Free Cash Transfer — referred
Council voted to transfer $440,000 from Water Enterprise Fund free cash into the water operating budget. - 38:16 · Sewer Enterprise Fund Free Cash Transfer — approved
Council voted to transfer $1,225,000 from Sewer Enterprise Fund free cash into the sewer operating budget. - 38:40 · FY 2020 Tax Factor and Levy Adoption — approved
The Board of Assessors presented valuation data across Gateway Cities and recommended a 1.71 tax shift factor, which the council voted to approve along with the tax levy. - 55:16 · Adoption of the FY 2020 tax levy — passed
- 55:42 · Resolution on Whitefield Street Real Estate Committee Hearing — passed
Council resolved that the Committee on Real Estate meet with state legislators, city officials, contractors, and residents regarding drainage and subdivision oversight. - 56:02 · Resolution for the Committee on Real Estate to meet regarding Whitefield Street issues with city officials, state delegation, residents, and contractors — passed