[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6530208,"mediaKeyId","3684430-0f32d873a9448a3391153425415edca4","parentId",3684430,"title","Superintendent presents FY26 school budget; Student Opportunity Act funding used to rebuild staff and facilities","audioSeconds",359,"startMs",6112000,"endMs",5753000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3684430-0f32d873a9448a3391153425415edca4&start=6112&end=5753","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3684430-0f32d873a9448a3391153425415edca4/thumbnail_6112000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6530208/New-Bedford-City/Bristol-County/Massachusetts/Superintendent-presents-FY26-school-budget-Student-Opportunity-Act-funding-used-to-rebuild-staff-and-facilities","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6530208-1cdae9f854e82e082a1f51af1540a48c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448624&Signature=n2O9cigB9Wmv5o1j-lGvQ0H2ojwQcO4g9nDhNKpnui~i8~QN9PjBBXUTG3ZFG0d1QVs746Ytbbx~GGN7hXlSxlnmW4wbwW4OI9RnxTeiHMkYXW~nTLRiRIA4z3EWDcz3Yl1LEzI2t~AE8JZSnVLvOwdg1ydACaamLFpZvJNtsJjyPosrJA2b2sCpwRi21pzsSLMRjs7gvoDQX49ZL25Gzs5kngqi~DuKd7AUPxvkp5yLfop3hvzo1~zQxqa0UQzKg6mvqo3XSC8oHyGgPpO2ekr9XcnILkuVpTbsYbCEG9m8SHfbmqL8IPg4cXc5GATLsEiHmWxYMKzyiCCP-ojPfg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","New Bedford","date","2025-06-05T00:00:00Z","article","Superintendent Thomas O'Leary opened the school-department presentation at the June 5 budget hearing by reviewing how state aid from the Student Opportunity Act (SOA) has affected New Bedford since FY22. \"We are essentially in year 6 of the state’s Student Opportunity Act commitment,\" O'Leary said, adding that the city has used that funding to add staff, upgrade facilities and expand programs.

O'Leary told the council that approximately $75 million in SOA-related state aid to the district since FY22 broke down into roughly $30 million for normal operational growth (pay and inflation), about $20 million for mandated or non-discretionary costs (special education, health insurance and other increases), and the remainder invested in strategic staffing and building improvements. He said the district now has higher FTE counts for paraeducators, co-teaching and other student-support roles and that facility improvements — including MSBA projects such as Duval Congdon — have reduced the share of students in substandard facilities.

On FY26 numbers, O'Leary said the school committee approved a net school spending total just under $250 million and a full school committee budget of $267,059,472 (including transportation and other non-net-school-spending items). He said the budget preserves class sizes in the low 20s and funds curricular adoption, expansion of Chapter 74 career programs at New Bedford High School, and an after‑hours program that connects students to vocational training.

Councilors asked several follow-ups. Councilor Perera asked why the retirement/pension assessment was level-funded in the presentation; O'Leary said that figure had been a placeholder while the district awaited final city actuarial and assessment methodology and that he had expected a mid-single-digit percentage change rather than the larger change discussed later in the hearing. Perera asked for classroom-size trends and pupil-teacher ratios; O'Leary said average classrooms are “in the low twenties” and that the district will provide a multi-year trend and a per-school breakdown.

O'Leary described circuit breaker special-education reimbursement as a prior-year reimbursement program: districts submit claims after the fiscal year and the state pays a percentage of extraordinary special-education costs in a later year; those reimbursements are often reinvested in curriculum, facilities and other classroom needs. He and assistant superintendent David Flynn said that negotiations with the district's largest bargaining units (teachers and paraeducators) are underway, that agreements will be reflected in the FY26 budget, and that the administration aims to finalize multi-year contracts.

Ending: The superintendent said the district will provide the council requested details — pension assessment schedules, classroom-size trends and a more specific FTE breakdown for FY26 — and reiterated the school committee’s approval of the FY26 spending plan. Council staff and school financial staff agreed to turn around requested documents promptly to assist the council’s budget deliberations.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","New Bedford - Quasi Committee of the Whole - Budget Hearings - Jun 05, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Superintendent Thomas O'Leary presented the New Bedford Public Schools’ FY26 budget on June 5, saying state Student Opportunity Act funds since FY22 helped expand staff, improve facilities and support curricular investments; the school committee approved a $267,059,472 total budget.","taxTitle","New Bedford City, Bristol County, Massachusetts","taxId",5758,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6530213,"Ziterion Theater moved to its own cost center; council questions taxpayer support for renovation and utilities",353,4516000,4869000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3684430-0f32d873a9448a3391153425415edca4&start=4516&end=4869","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3684430-0f32d873a9448a3391153425415edca4/thumbnail_4516000.jpg","/articles/6530213/New-Bedford-City/Bristol-County/Massachusetts/Ziterion-Theater-moved-to-its-own-cost-center-council-questions-taxpayer-support-for-renovation-and-utilities","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6530213-4961ab2d6367dde939cd3d66b1c73bd7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448624&Signature=Z-1xPwIwKLKrrmjAaquihRYoSV9u5j6DMrGtIWZdmLmwl6iB1qyoxC~vLaQo4PM-r8hDB4sP56olasdF~fglvMaLJCl0Gz33QfLaB1d7WPUwmp6oY6xhyYA9uFG5jKrvm54p5Vt2KmYyFY42ORw6c~kx2lodAUpnwGfRBzsVl7tqe7LnEZH3tyMZSAhISGTqyIsAqU~FG-F0DBNVSviawp3311BerRYWq5INK74YWyh0xVZP7ieoX1Ozo1jsMWzcqb4mNwSC3NZJfhq55KqCFY9uPKHRYW6zf8HvLtyS01YBGxJizSjTAXdiyuvTVl4A8Rj-ulBm-tbg2C55KUALng__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Director Jennifer Viera and CFO Bob Ekstrom told the City Council on June 5 that the Ziterion Theater has been moved into its own cost center so theater-specific electricity, maintenance and occupancy costs appear in a single place.

Viera said the reorganization moves electricity, repair and maintenance, and maintenance agreements associated with the theater out of DFFM’s general accounts and into the theater’s own line. Councilors asked for the Ziterion’s contractual details. Councilor Gia Stauner requested the management contract and a list of who receives management support payments; Viera said the contract can be provided.

Councilors also pressed whether the theater (a city‑owned building) would pay its own utilities under recent agreements. Councilor Morad said she believed that agreement meant the city would stop paying the Ziterion’s utilities; CFO Ekstrom replied, “We always pay the electricity. There's no question about it,” but later clarified that current city utility accounts for the theater are turned off while renovation work is in progress.

Ekstrom and councilors discussed the project's financing: the renovation is a multi-million-dollar project (Ekstrom cited a $3,738,000 figure during discussion) funded through a mix of sources including private fundraising and city support; the council asked whether ticket sales or rentals would return funds to the city. Ekstrom said that the theater operates as a separate entity and the city’s direct funding is not structured to be recouped through ticket revenue.

Councilors expressed concern about continued taxpayer support and the structure of the theater’s subsidy. One councilor noted an “accelerator clause” in the original agreement that could increase city support over time.

Ending: Councilors requested the management contract and a clearer breakdown of what city funds support renovation, operations and utilities; staff said they would provide the contract and the theater cost-center details for follow-up review.","The Ziterion Theater now has a separate cost center for accounting of occupancy and maintenance costs. Councilors pressed city staff about a $495,000 management contract, whether the theater pays its utilities and the overall city financing of a multi-million-dollar renovation.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6530218,"City budget includes three-year solid-waste contract and new line items for abandoned campers, carts and consultant",217,3017000,3234000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3684430-0f32d873a9448a3391153425415edca4&start=3017&end=3234","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3684430-0f32d873a9448a3391153425415edca4/thumbnail_3017000.jpg","/articles/6530218/New-Bedford-City/Bristol-County/Massachusetts/City-budget-includes-three-year-solid-waste-contract-and-new-line-items-for-abandoned-campers-carts-and-consultant","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6530218-8b7c66d07bf48f49d656f31a8d5e6f85/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448624&Signature=Hkw4m8kFNlikvZQXPjsY-x-ClzvupeICIfFKamnfKbMMMee5kPJVci7XLRmm3Y1TAE1qz80ks8P6zFcwXeyV~Amti6Mm8vAI1iLeIPQNNObfu6TsdFZLIZhcm~VVzH2nP9s2sS7Rx9FsQMP2bbVNO6gEvRc65QYfLDhZzutLJ75hi9z1lV8WKtfgkWLSxCouxYWSBPARjXPl~A4PIZcW5zyy~mXBbClRwd7R66E6umw5owN5VPPth5GZ5fuVWiYF4ZQKkgL4i8-SNLvdNZ5NwaAXpGbF6B9A6d~5dtp~M3JCrmDu66PIQwROM5HuwewF7cd-0oGtBc-dz7c8hjuL2g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City Council heard details on June 5 about the city’s waste collection and disposal budget, which now sits in its own cost center after being split from the Department of Facilities and Fleet Management. Director Jennifer Viera said the city entered a three-year contract with Capital Waste Services in July 2024 and that the FY26 budget reflects contractual rate increases in that agreement.

Viera described recurring purchases and operational costs tied to the contract: parts and repair funds for trash carts, and an order strategy that purchases in truckload quantities (examples cited: 304 95-gallon carts, 288 65-gallon carts). She said cart replacement is a recurring expense because many carts are about 13 years old (life expectancy roughly 10 years).

The proposed waste budget also includes $36,000 for a consultant to prepare the next hauler RFP and $25,000 to cover removal and disposal of abandoned campers, RVs, boats and trailers. Viera said since July 2024 the city has removed 8 campers/RVs, 5 boats and 6 trailers — 19 pieces in total — and that the removals have cost DFFM about $35,000 so far. “We are now asking for [disposal funding] to be part of the budget,” she said.

Councilors asked about vendor selection, vendor lists and contracting practice. Viera said procurement law requires three quotes for purchases above a specified threshold (discussed as $10,000 in the hearing) and that some vendors are on-call under contract. She also explained towing and disposal: the city initially pays tow companies to remove abandoned items and stores them until disposal; larger items may be charged by the foot for scrapping.

Councilors raised operational and oversight issues. Several members pressed why Capital Waste had not established a local office as represented during the contract procurement; councilors said the previously promised local office had not materialized. On recycling and commingling, Viera said Creed (Crapo) Hill monitors loads and the city receives notifications when commingling exceeds a threshold; she described footage-driven complaints as sometimes due to confusion between older recycling carts and trash carts.

Ending: Councilors requested additional documentation — including the consultant list used previously for RFP work, vendor-selection records and a breakdown tying vendor invoices to aggregated equipment-rental totals — and asked that DFFM continue the monthly contract review as the request-for-proposal process proceeds.","Councilors reviewed a separated waste collection cost center for a July 2024 three-year contract with Capital Waste Services, new annual purchases of replacement trash carts, and proposed consultant and disposal funds for abandoned campers, trailers and boats.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6530222,"New Bedford facilities department requests staffing, faces vacancies as utilities moved to new cost center",1990,264000,2254000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3684430-0f32d873a9448a3391153425415edca4&start=264&end=2254","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3684430-0f32d873a9448a3391153425415edca4/thumbnail_264000.jpg","/articles/6530222/New-Bedford-City/Bristol-County/Massachusetts/New-Bedford-facilities-department-requests-staffing-faces-vacancies-as-utilities-moved-to-new-cost-center","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6530222-8d8d88c5481eeecbfaa4cc430be08282/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448624&Signature=G2nVFxxOj0dCXzJiLPPmMIX1SxII6XrV23AJUqqSGe0w9QAYREwn9sSCeJVSL8CS7rng73qu2arkmQie7IyD~bxSde03-L90Zcy3NKBOn2E118BiEEn8B7L9EiWeeaxRFpH7rFNF3jBdGWvUNEYmq33QEhNOC9AppcSly9p8HJGKGpgcGRu5YNPM~LlOT1PjWyCi7FeZ5Mscpkf91dplhzJdc3wu--Ai7uqcH9rcp5PM1D-6V90BvOSSyZ7k4br7tn90ZmjNoMjxIZXkT3Zmupq0sCWf1xMZTq-TvbJ~fG~EVoBEDLUCLpCQUZ-6Ju2VHVwJne6V1cF1vROv8ah1PQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Director Jennifer Viera told the City Council on June 5 that the Department of Facilities and Fleet Management (DFFM) is proposing a FY26 budget reduced by $1.3 million after utilities and the Ziterion were reallocated into separate cost centers. Viera said DFFM — which she described as “a multifaceted organization composed of approximately 80 committed professionals” — is proposing two new positions: an assistant project manager to serve as the city’s recycling coordinator and a second plumber, while eliminating one signal maintainer.

The assistant project manager position has been funded externally for eight years by a MassDEP grant, Viera said, and “with the grant term now expired, continued funding is necessary to retain this critical position.” She added that recycling is mandated in Massachusetts and said the coordinator oversees public workshops, educational materials and the recycling center. On the plumbing position, Viera said the department’s only licensed plumber will retire after 29 years and that relying on outside contractors is expensive: “Our current on call hourly rates exceed $160 per hour, which is more than the cost of employing 4 full time plumbers.” She said adding the plumber role results in a net cost of roughly $8,000 because the position is offset by eliminating the signal maintainer role.

Viera said 87 percent of the department’s budget is itemized, with the remaining 13 percent held for general repairs and unforeseen needs. The proposed personnel plan includes a 5 percent vacancy savings reserve. Councilors pressed for more specifics: Councilor Perera and Councilor Oliver asked whether large building repairs such as repointing City Hall should be put in the CIP rather than the operating budget. CFO Bob Ekstrom said the city’s capital policy typically capitalizes individual purchases above $20,000 and that some borderline projects are still run through the operating budget but can be moved to the CIP if necessary.

Councilors also pressed Viera on open positions and hiring challenges. Viera said DFFM currently lists about 10 vacancies and later said the department’s roster is roughly 78 positions (she cited 78 in one exchange). She identified two hard-to-fill jobs — a welder and a service writer — that require a commercial driver’s license (CDL) in their job descriptions. “The rate of pay is not enough for someone who holds a CDL license,” Viera said, and explained she is working with personnel to remove unnecessary CDL requirements from some job descriptions so the jobs can be filled.

Other budget lines drew questions: repairs and maintenance rose in the proposed budget to cover reclassified contractual services and to reflect inflation and new facilities; Viera offered to provide a vendor-level crosswalk to explain a roughly $659,000 equipment rental line and to break out a near-doubling in repairs and maintenance. Councilors also asked for a list of equipment vendors and documentation tying specific vendor line items to the aggregated totals.

Viera urged the council to consider the effect of cuts on front-line services, saying “there is no excess to cut, only core operations and critical personnel,” and flagged functions that would be affected by reductions, including cleanup of illegally dumped bulk items, abandoned property disposal and vehicle-accident response.

Ending: Viera closed by asking for thoughtful consideration of DFFM’s budget and offered to provide the detailed crosswalks and vacancy splits councilors requested. The council then moved to consider separate utilities, waste and theater cost centers.","Director Jennifer Viera told the City Council that the Department of Facilities and Fleet Management (DFFM) trimmed its proposed FY26 budget by $1.3 million after moving utilities and the Ziterion into separate cost centers, but seeks to add a recycling coordinator (assistant project manager) and a plumber while eliminating a signal maintainer.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Superintendent presents FY26 school budget; Student Opportunity Act funding used to rebuild staff and facilities

Ziterion Theater moved to its own cost center; council questions taxpayer support for renovation and utilities

City budget includes three-year solid-waste contract and new line items for abandoned campers, carts and consultant

New Bedford facilities department requests staffing, faces vacancies as utilities moved to new cost center