CITY OF EAST PROVIDENCE

MINUTES - SPECIAL MEETING

BUDGET SESSION: FISCAL YEAR 2026-2027

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2026

CALL TO ORDER: 6:30 P.M.

145 TAUNTON AVENUE-CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS

EAST PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND

 

Notice: The meeting will also be viewable live at:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0YEW6s1RpjcKR47VMil1LA

 

 

City Council:

Council President, Bob Rodericks – At Large

Council Vice-President: Frank Rego – Ward 1

Councilwoman Anna Sousa - Ward 2

Councilman Frank Fogarty - Ward 3

Councilman Rick Lawson - Ward 4

 

City Solicitor, Michael J. Marcello

 City Clerk, Andreza Skipworth

Attorney Joel Votolato filled in for City Solicitor, Michael Marcello

 

 

 

I.                    CALL TO ORDER

Roll Call

           

            Fogarty   X   Lawson    A    Rego   X   Sousa   X   Rodericks   X

 

II.                 SALUTE TO THE FLAG

 

III.             BUDGET SESSION

 

A.   Public Hearing

 

1.     Administration’s presentation of the proposed Fiscal Year 2026-2027 budget available online https://stories.opengov.com/eastprovidenceri/published/nD40aNtmz and in the City Clerk’s office.

 

Presented by Mayor Roberto DaSilva with the key takeaways:

Driving the FY’27 budget increase: 1) Debt Service - 1.7%; Higher principal and interest payments 2) Healthcare costs – 16% Increase; Rising healthcare costs for employees and covered dependents.  Increase in employees opting in to the city health care. 3) Pension fund Contributions – 1.4% increase; An increase in the City’s required annual contribution 4) School support – 4% Increase; An increased City allocation to East Providence Public Schools. 5) Labor Costs – 4.8% increase; Contractual salary and benefit increases. Debt Service: 181.1M; 86% School related debt represents 15.6M of FY’27 debt service; +306K from FY’26 Total debt increases 1.7% to $18.1M

 

B.    Council Workshop – Discussion only on the proposed Fiscal Year 2026-2027 budget.

 

1.     City Operations

·        Finance Department – Glenda Delgado, Director

 

2.     Public Works

·        Highway & Parks

 

3.     Public Safety

·        Police Department

·        Fire Department

 

4.     East Providence School Department

·        Acting Finance Director – Mark Piccerelli 

 

School budget presented by Superintendent Rob Perry, Acting Controller Jessica Arruda, Consultant Joe Crowley. Key Indicators: Full-time staff 745, October Student Enrollment – 5,018 per pupil expenditure $21,909.  School requested a 4% increase in city Appropriation $2,379,671; Proposed FY ’27 budget is $106,866,061. Projected expenditures in FY ’27 $110,698,003 with a projected FY ’27 deficit of ($3,831,942).  The School Department has been in a deficit for the past couple of years. Potential cost saving measure in future budgets: operational and non-personal cuts $800,000 - $4,2000,000; Certified staff reduction $750,000 - $3,000,000; Close school(s) and redistrict $675,000 - $810,000; Zero percents first year wage increase $529,000 - $2,115,000; Early retirement incentive $476,000 - $1,150,000; Expand transportation walk distance $250,000 - $500,000.

 

  

IV.              ADJOURNMENT

 

Member	Aye	Nay
Fogarty	X
Lawson	A
Rego	Motion
Sousa	Seconded
Rodericks	X

 

 

If communication assistance is needed or any other accommodations to ensure equal participation, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at 401.435.7596 at least 48 hours prior to the meeting date.

 

POSTED: 9/23/2026