Fall River Herald News Article

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City officials quick to begin assessing projected $16.7 million shortfall for fiscal 2015 budget

The entrance to the city collector's office at Fall River Government Center. City councilors and administrators are trying to work together early to confront and manage a projected fiscal 2015 budget shortfall of more than $16 million.

Herald News Photo | Dave Souza
Jo C. Goode
Herald News Staff Reporter
Posted Apr. 1, 2014

FALL RIVER — City Council President Joseph Camara reiterated a point he made at Monday night’s joint City Council and School Committee meeting when it was learned the city could face a more than $16.7 million shortfall going into fiscal 2015 — the administration and the School Department need to get together now and find solutions….

 

Flanagan said he’s met with the fire chief and a former district fire chief “to look at ways we can take the firefighters and move them onto the fire trucks.”

Not all firefighters fight fires, Flanagan said, with some doing inspections and some acting as paramedics.

“We’re going to take as many bodies and move them on the fire trucks,” Flanagan told the crowd.

Flanagan said that is highly unlikely that staffing would go to 200, the number the mayor originally planned.

“That’s realistic,” Flanagan said, “However, any cuts we make to the fire department will be a temporary cut. I want to bring those firefighters back as soon as possible.”

Whether the mayor can muster the backing of the City Council to make those cuts is in doubt.

Camara said he and his fellow councilors would not approve a budget with a fire department that has a complement of 153 firefighters.

Mitchell called Flanagan’s plan “foolhardy” and not something he will support.

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