The Fall River City Council held a special meeting to address proposed fiscal year 2026 water and sewer rates and enterprise fund appropriations. During citizens’ input, residents Kelly Buchanan and Sarah Cavallo urged the council to reject proposed utility rate increases, citing economic strain on residents, retirees, and renters. The council unanimously voted 9-0 to adopt the Ordinance Committee’s recommendation to deny the proposed rate increases, effectively granting the rate ordinance leave to withdraw.
Councilor Cliff A. Ponte engaged in extensive discussion with Chief Financial Officer Emily Arpke and water/sewer administrator Mr. Furlan regarding indirect cost transfers between enterprise funds and the city general fund. While Arpke cautioned that the general fund already faced significant pressures—including a projected $10 million health insurance hike, $3 million in solid waste contract increases, and rising pension costs—councilors sought a solution to level-fund utility rates without impairing operational water and sewer services. Councilor Ponte proposed reducing the enterprise fund indirect cost transfers to the general fund by $527,000 for water and $832,000 for sewer, matching the projected rate increase revenues.
After an initial motion to reduce the water appropriation failed on a 4-5 vote, Councilor Sampson successfully moved for reconsideration following clarification that the cut targeted indirect administrative transfers rather than departmental operations or staffing. The council then voted line by line to approve amended enterprise budgets, reducing water transfers and indirect costs by $527,000 (total budget adopted at $16,044,442) and sewer transfers and indirect costs by $832,000 (total budget adopted at $31,953,387). As a result of these actions, the city’s utility rates remained unchanged at $4.24 per CCF for water and $8.11 per CCF for sewer.
Topics discussed
- 15:20 · Adoption of the committee report denying proposed water and sewer rate increases, granting the ordinance leave to withdraw — approved
Adoption of the committee report denying proposed water and sewer rate increases, granting the ordinance leave to withdraw - 16:25 · Enterprise fund indirect costs and municipal budget pressures
Councilor Ponte and CFO Emily Arpke debated indirect cost calculations, enterprise chargebacks, health insurance increases, and general fund impacts. - 16:50 · Adoption of amended FY2026 Water Enterprise budget
The council voted line by line on the Water budget, cutting $527,000 from indirect costs to total $16,044,442. - 16:50 · Adoption of amended FY2026 Sewer Enterprise budget
The council voted line by line on the Sewer budget, reducing indirect costs by $832,000 to total $31,953,387. - 35:11 · Denial of proposed water and sewer rate ordinance
The council acted on the Ordinance Committee’s 5-0 vote of denial and granted the rate increase ordinance leave to withdraw. - 1:16:45 · Initial motion to reduce the Water Enterprise appropriation by $527,000 — failed
Initial motion to reduce the Water Enterprise appropriation by $527,000 - 1:20:11 · Motion to reconsider the vote on reducing the Water Enterprise appropriation — approved
Motion to reconsider the vote on reducing the Water Enterprise appropriation - 1:23:22 · Public opposition to water and sewer rate increases
Residents spoke out against utility rate increases, noting compounding increases from previous years and fixed-income hardships. - 1:28:10 · Adoption of the FY2026 Water Enterprise budget appropriation as amended in the amount of $16,044,442 — passed
Adoption of the FY2026 Water Enterprise budget appropriation as amended in the amount of $16,044,442 - 1:28:10 · Adoption of the FY2026 Sewer Enterprise budget appropriation as amended in the amount of $31,953,387 — passed
Adoption of the FY2026 Sewer Enterprise budget appropriation as amended in the amount of $31,953,387 - 1:34:06 · Amendment to reduce Water Enterprise transfers and indirect costs by $527,000 (from $3,125,238 to $2,598,238) — approved
Amendment to reduce Water Enterprise transfers and indirect costs by $527,000 (from $3,125,238 to $2,598,238) - 1:48:39 · Amendment to reduce Sewer Enterprise transfers and indirect costs by $832,000 (from $1,780,000 to $948,000) — approved
Amendment to reduce Sewer Enterprise transfers and indirect costs by $832,000 (from $1,780,000 to $948,000) - 1:49:59 · Confirmation of unchanged utility rates
Officials confirmed that water rates will remain at $4.24 per CCF and sewer rates at $8.11 per CCF for FY2026.