Fall River asks to cover $3.1 million snow and ice deficit from savings, with no federal blizzard aid

FALL RIVER Fall River would pay off last winter's $3.1 million snow and ice deficit out of its savings under an order Mayor Paul Coogan sent the City Council. The federal government has turned down Massachusetts' request for disaster aid after the February blizzard twice, once in July and again on appeal in September.

The order asks the council to appropriate $3,107,675.80 from the General Stabilization Fund "to eliminate the Fiscal Year 2026 Snow and Ice Removal deficit." In his Oct. 22 letter to the council, Coogan wrote that the money "will address the outstanding deficit incurred during Fiscal Year 2026 and ensure the necessary funding is provided." City Auditor Christopher Murphy asked the mayor the same day to send the transfer to the council, writing that it "will provide the necessary funding to offset the FY2026 Snow and Ice deficit." The order was on the agenda as a priority matter for the council's regular meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27, in the council chamber at One Government Center.

How a snow budget runs short

State law lets a city or town overspend its snow and ice budget. Under Chapter 44, Section 31D, a community may spend past its snow and ice appropriation with the approval of its chief administrative officer, as long as that year's appropriation equaled or exceeded the year before. The law says spending made that way is certified to the assessors and "included in the next annual tax rate." Paying the deficit from the stabilization fund would cover it from the city's reserves instead.

Spending from a general stabilization fund takes a two-thirds vote of the council under Chapter 40, Section 5B.

Fiscal 2026 ran from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. The Feb. 22 to 23 blizzard was the second major storm of that winter, after a January snowstorm, Boston.com reported. On April 9, the state's two U.S. senators and five of its House members, including Reps. Jake Auchincloss and Bill Keating, wrote to President Donald Trump and FEMA in support of the governor's request. Their release on the letter said "communities across Massachusetts, and particularly in the southeastern part of the state, faced historic levels of snowfall, with more than 41 inches of snow reported in some areas."

In Fall River, about 50 Massachusetts National Guard soldiers cleared fire hydrants and supported emergency crews after the storm, and the city said it received more than 100 pieces of snow removal equipment from New York, WPRI reported Feb. 26.

Federal aid denied twice

In April, Gov. Maura Healey asked for a federal major disaster declaration that would have opened funding to state agencies and local governments in Barnstable, Bristol, Dukes, Nantucket, Norfolk and Plymouth counties, Boston.com and WBUR reported. Her office said Bristol, Barnstable, Norfolk and Plymouth counties might also qualify for added snow assistance, WBUR reported.

The Trump administration denied the request in July, along with requests from New York, New Jersey and Rhode Island. Healey appealed, and state officials said Massachusetts had about $45 million in eligible storm costs. On Thursday, Sept. 3, Healey's office confirmed the appeal had also been denied, according to Boston.com and WJAR.

"Our first responders, public works crews and local officials worked around the clock to keep people safe and clean up after this storm. They did their jobs. We did ours. President Trump should do his," Healey said in a statement.

FEMA Administrator Cameron Hamilton defended the decision in a post on X, Boston.com and WJAR reported. "No new information was provided by NY, NJ, MA & RI for FEMA to consider. Winter weather is not new to the Northeast. Federal disaster aid is not a backstop for routine state & local budgeting," he wrote. FEMA spokespeople said the agency is returning to a more rigorous review that does not grant federal aid for routine and expected events, Boston.com reported.

What happens next

If the council approves the order, the money moves from the General Stabilization Fund to the snow removal expenses deficit account, as the order lays out, and the council's minutes will record the vote. The same Oct. 27 agenda carried a new three-year contract for the city's public works Teamsters, which SC360 reported Oct. 23.

Residents can reach the City Council office at 508-324-2233 or city_council@fallriverma.gov.

Label: Reported by us, from the town's posted records.