Gov. Healey Offers No Lifeline as New Bedford Faces Fire Station 9 Closure

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey responded, "We are looking at that," when I asked whether state funds are available to prevent the closure of New Bedford's Fire Station 9 due to local budget cuts.

New Bedford's $32 Million Shortfall Puts Public Safety on the Line

In his annual budget address to the New Bedford City Council, Mayor Jon Mitchell said the city is facing a $32 million shortfall and has proposed cuts to multiple departments' budgets, as well as a sharp property tax hike, to help close the gap. The administration says it needs about $2 million in concessions to keep the station funded and operational.

Mayor Mitchell Points to Outdated State Funding Formulas

Mitchell blames the state in part for the city's precarious situation, noting that New Bedford has not received an appreciable increase in local aid since 2008.

Healey agreed that the Commonwealth should do more.

"We've got to look at funding formulas both for Chapter 70 and Chapter 90, what we give cities and towns, for roads and bridges, and what we give to them for schools," Healey said. "It's been too many years."

"We should take a look at that and assess, you know, what the right funding formula should be," she said.

Healey Offers No Lifeline To Keep New Bedford's Station 9 Open

"And in the meantime, remember, you know, we came forward, we gave cities and towns an extra $100 million for roads and bridges earlier this year, because remember how hard hit the SouthCoast was during the winter during the winter storms?" Healey said. "We were trying to come forward with extra funding, you know, extra funding that we already gave for transportation funding."

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Governor Healey Addresses Inflation and Municipal Aid Constraints

"And now I want extra money for education for our cities and towns," Healey said, touting legislation she's filed to distribute $100 million in one-time funding to Massachusetts school districts facing budget crises to stave off layoffs and program cuts.

Healey Offers No Lifeline To Keep New Bedford's Station 9 Open

"I'm trying to get $100 million out to cities and towns to help with their budget crisis right now," Healey said. "The fact of the matter is, we've had inflation, we've had tariffs, healthcare costs have exploded around this country, and it puts a strain on the budgets of the cities and towns."

"I don't want to see teachers laid off. I don't want to see firefighters laid off. I don't want to see mental health counselors or police officers laid off," she said. "I'm trying to do everything I can, as a state, as a governor, to support our cities and towns, and you know, we'll look to continue to do that."

No State Lifeline for Fire Station 9

Healey answered "no" when asked if there is currently state funding that can help with those issues.

"I just did my supplemental budget to try and get money out for education for schools right now to help with some of the school budgets," she said. "And of course, anything that helps a city, whether it's on schools, then frees up more money to help with some other things."

"We're going to constantly look at things," Healey added.

Healey offered no lifeline to New Bedford to save Station 9 from closing.