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Committee recommends paying unpaid DPW bills and transferring free cash to cover refuse shortfall

Brockton Finance Committee · December 2, 2025

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Summary

Brockton’s Finance Committee recommended favorably several orders to pay unpaid DPW, water and sewer bills, and a $134,735 transfer from certified free cash to the refuse enterprise after officials warned the refuse fund could see a FY26 deficit exceeding $1 million without action.

The Finance Committee recommended favorably a group of orders to approve unpaid prior-year DPW, sewer and water invoices and to transfer $134,735 from certified free cash to the DPW refuse retained earnings account.

CFO Troy Clarkson said DPW processes roughly 2,746 invoices annually totaling about $57,191,000 and that staffing shortages have contributed to late payments. "The DPW in total pays 2,746 invoices per year, to the tune of $57,191,000," Clarkson said. Commissioner Pat Hill confirmed the city will pursue options to shore up refuse finances, including fee adjustments for bulky-item disposal and meetings with local mattress-recycling businesses.

Clarkson told the committee that if no fees are raised the refuse enterprise "could exceed $1,000,000" in deficit for FY26; Hill gave an approximate figure of $1,200,000. Councilors discussed penalties, the split of vendor invoices among enterprise funds, and possible ordinance-committee remedies. The committee recommended the bills and transfers favorably; follow-up work on fee structure and ordinance changes is expected in January.