FALL RIVER — The millions the city received from the American Rescue Plan Act funding has afforded Fall River many infrastructure- and community-based projects it normally would not have been able to afford. 

It also has another benefit with an infusion of surplus money from the 2024 budget through interest earned on the one-time infusion of cash. 

Recently the city certified approximately $15.9 million in free cash, an amount far exceeding the numbers in previous years, which typically will be around the $3 million mark. 

In March, during his State of the City address, Mayor Paul Coogan said the city’s “rainy day fund” has grown from $10 million when he took office in 2020 to $26 million today.

Read more from Jo C. Goode at heraldnews.com.