budget

Mayor Jon Mitchell chastised the New Bedford City Council over cuts made to his proposed budget this week. The City Council slashed over $2.2 million, including $200,000 from the snow removal budget, and $1.1 million from the General Government Unclassified budget...

At the conclusion of the City Council's budget cut session Monday night, Councilors voted to set the FY16 budget at $281,630,124. That's nearly $2.3 million less than Mayor Jon Mitchell's proposal.

The City Ccouncil's final budget hearing was dedicated to Supt. Pia Durkin's FY16 proposal Thursday night.

Sparks flew early during Thursday night's City Council budget hearing with the School Department.

The New Bedford School Committee unanimously voted to close Kempton Elementary School Monday night.

In a press conference held Monday morning, Fall River Mayor Sam Sutter proposed creating a new sanitation fee for all city households. The fee would cost households $120 per year in addition to residents having to purchase the Pay As You Throw bags currently required for trash removal.

A law granting the City Council more control over school funding has been on the books since 1987, but had never been approved until Thursday night.

The New Bedford School Committee has proposed to close Kempton Elementary School in order to save $235,000 in the FY16 budget. The City Council requested that Supt. Dr. Pia Durkin and the School Committee reconsider the closure during Thursday night's meeting.

The New Bedford City Council Chambers were filled with city department heads Wednesday night as Mayor Jon Mitchell presented his FY16 budget proposal of $297 million.

The New Bedford School Committee recently approved a budget of $120.4 million for the upcoming school year with a six to one vote.