By Beth David, Editor
The Fairhaven Board of Public Works opted not to vote on a proposed trash fee of $100 that would be assessed to each residential household. The board heard from a number of residents at its meeting on 2/26/24, some remotely, who expressed concern with the fee, spending about an hour and a half on the agenda item.
The board first heard a presentation from Assistant Town Administrator of Finance/Town Accountant, Anne Carreiro, who explained the town’s financial situation.
She said the town is facing a deficit of $2.17 million. The town is only allowed to raise property taxes by an overall amount of 2.5%. State aid is increasing by 1.6% and local receipts (permit fees, excise taxes) are increasing by 1.7%.
Expenses, however are increasing 8% to 55% depending on the department. Police and Fire Departments have contracted to increase overtime pay from 10% to 15%; school assessments for Voc-Tech have gone up $240K, and Bristol Aggie has increased $81K; and the overall school department budget is increasing. In short, every department has an increase, but revenue is not keeping pace.
Ms. Carreiro said the Town Administrator has asked all town departments to increase fees.
In round numbers, the increase in revenue is $1,398,000, and the increase in expenses is $3,537,000.
She said they were actually at $2.17, but she only used the “big numbers” to keep it short.
Ms. Carreiro went through the numbers, explaining how much of a deficit the bigger departments face with and without the trash fee.
She also explained that the host community agreements with the cannabis industry throughout the state are gone, after a court awarded a company over a $1 million that a municipality had to pay back. That will cost the town more than $400,000 this year.
“We can’t get it back,” said Ms. Carreiro. “It’s controlled by the state. That’s gone.”
BPW member Robert “Hoppy” Hobson said he did not like the idea of a new fee, but said he would rather pay $100 a year on each of his properties than see layoffs.
BPW member Anne Morton Smith praised the concise presentation, adding that the Finance Committee meetings are hard to follow. She said she was with Hoppy, saying that $25 a quarter is not a lot to ask.
Ms. Carreiro told the board that without increasing revenues, the town is looking at a $617K cut to the schools; $210K cut to police; $180K cut to fire; $166K cut to public works; plus cuts to the smaller departments.
“Those are salaries,” she said.
One woman said if layoffs have to happen, then they have to happen. She said corporate America is laying off people. If the town can not afford so many employees then they need to be laid off. She said the town voted against the Proposition 2 1/2 override last year because people just cannot afford more.
One man said that he and his wife make decent money but they have had to cut back on things like going out to eat. He said most people are actually paying more than 50% of their pay in taxes if they add up all the sales taxes and utilities fees.
“So when is enough enough,” he said. “There’s a limit people can go. “A hundred bucks sounds very nice that way, but I’m just tired.”
Resident Brian Messier, who worked as a firefighter in Fairhaven for 32 years, said the $700K was almost double the amount that was rejected by the taxpayers.
“So where does this stop,” asked Mr. Messier. “Because I’m very confident this is just the beginning of the town taking it to the taxpayer and saying we need more of your money.”
Lee Baumgartner asked if the board could put a time limit on the increase and revisit it next year. If not, he said it will be an “eternal new cash cow” that everyone will count on and then it will go up.
Carolyn Lopes asked if people who have two bins would pay double, and BPW chairperson Brian Wotton said they would. He said people who do not have trash pickup will not pay the fee.
Ms. Lopes said she was not for the fee.
“I think there are plenty of other cuts that could be made in town,” she said, adding that there are a lot of needs in town but also a lot of wants that should be looked at.
Cameron Durant said the residents of Fairhaven are in the bottom 90% of income going to property taxes. He noted that Dartmouth has a larger commercial tax base and they also have a trash fee and have to pay for bags. Residents need to make a determination on what they want. It is a Return on Investment decision.
“People need to look at that ROI,” he said and see if the value is worth it.
Christine Lopes said she was opposed to the fee, and noted that household median income in Fairhaven is between $70K and $80K, and those people are “absolutely going to struggle” with bills.
She said seniors are struggling now.
Joe Desroches suggested that it go to the ballot, since the override did not pass. The voters have to pay the fee so let them decide.
Board member Anne Morton Smith asked if the board could include a senior discount that would also include income parameters.
Mr. Wotton said he was looking for a motion to table the matter while the board looked at some cuts. He said the town is looking for $700,000 from the BPW, and if they can get some of that in cuts, the trash fee may be less.
“I would like to try to chisel away at that 700,000 so I can make a more educated decision,” said Mr. Wotton.
Mr. Hobson said he wanted to vote that night because he did not see where the cuts would come from without layoffs.
“I know before I even leave out of here, I got 200,000 off of this already,” said Mr. Wotton.
BPW member Daniel Lopes said he could “see the sense” in seeing what they could do to exhaust their options.
“At the end of the day we answer to the taxpayers,” said Mr. Lopes.
In the end the board voted 4–1 to table the item until the next meeting on 3/4, with Mr. Hobson voting “no.”
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