Brockton Finance Committee Approves $1.6 Million Free Cash Transfer for Federal Grant Deficits

BROCKTON -- December 15, 2025, Brockton Finance Committee unanimously recommends $1.6 million free cash transfer to cover federal housing grant deficits. The committee voted Monday to advance all 10 items on a December 15 agenda to the full City Council, which was set to take up the items at a special meeting the same night. The largest action, a $1,609,443 transfer from certified free cash, is required by the state Department of Revenue before the city can set its fiscal year 2026 tax rate; it covers accumulated deficits in Community Development Block Grant, HOME, and lead paint abatement programs formerly run by the Brockton Redevelopment Authority across fiscal years 2021 through 2023, including a $1,170,511 lead paint abatement deficit in FY23 alone. CFO Dr. Troy Clarkson said the deficits stemmed in part from a failure to submit federal reimbursement requests on time rather than outright overspending, but Councilor Farwell responded that the distinction did not excuse the people responsible: "People who are simply going to continue to spend money, not document why we're spending it, and then have the city have to use free cash to simply offset the rising deficits is absolutely inexcusable." The committee also recommended a five-year, $76,836-per-year lease of 74 new golf carts for D.W. Field Golf Course, projected to cost $110,000 less than outright purchase over the same period, along with a $323,822 fire department staffing grant and two Council on Aging grants totaling $188,688.