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REGULAR SESSION
PRESENT: Rory H. McEntee, President
Abel G. Collins, Vice President
Deborah D. Bergner
Deborah J. Kelso
Jessica L. Rose
1. A. REGULAR SESSION
2. A. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
The Pledge of Allegiance is given.
B. The Land Acknowledgement Statement is read.
3. ROLL CALL
Roll Call is taken and four members are present. Council Vice President Collins has not arrived yet.
The following members of the School Committee are present: Paula Whitford, Chairwoman, Michelle Brousseau, Vice Chair, Melissa Boyd, Katherine Macinanti, Michael Marran, and Carol Vetter.
Also present: Theresa L. Murphy, Interim Town Manager; Rosalie Bouchard, Interim Finance Director; Dr. Frank Pallotta, Interim School Superintendent; Ginamarie Masiello, Assistant School Superintendent; and Raquel Pellerin, Chief Financial Officer, School Department.
4. PUBLIC HEARING
A. Notice having been duly given, a Public Hearing, with School Committee participation is held relative to the Town Council’s Preliminary Budget for FY 2022-2023 as adopted on March 21, 2022. This Public Hearing will address all funds contained within the Town Council’s Preliminary Budget.
Theresa Murphy, Interim Town Manager reviews the budget process to date and the upcoming budget meetings, including the second required Public Hearing with the School Committee on Monday, April 18, 2022. The Town Council’s Final Budget will be adopted at a Public Hearing during their Regular Session on Monday, April 25, 2022.
The Town Manager’s Proposed Budget for FY 2022-2023 contained a property tax levy of $75,745,061, an increase of 2.26% from the current year. The tax rate was proposed at $11.02 per thousand, a decrease of $3.43 or -23.74% from the current rate of $14.45 due to the increase in property values as a result of the town-wide revaluation.
On March 21, 2022 the Town Council adopted their Preliminary Budget for FY 2022-2023 with reductions amounting to $344,171, reducing the property tax rate to $10.97, an increase of 1.79% over the current year. Reductions were made to healthcare, OPEB contribution, Council Contingency Account, Debt Service Fund allocation, and the Town’s mobile app was eliminated. Outside Agency funding was increased by $9,000.
The Warrant presents the overall Town Council Preliminary Budget for FY 2022-2023 as adopted. The School Department is level funded at $55,994,773 for Maintenance of Effort (MOE) as required by State law.
The Interim Town Manager reviews the FY 2022-2023 Budget Program for All Funds totaling $102,352,828. The General Fund Expenditure and Revenue Statements reflect a total amount of $29,309,829. The School Fund Expenditure and Revenue Statements reflect a total amount of $61,731,873. The Peace Dale Office Building is a self-sustaining fund, with expenditures in the amount of $90,867 and revenues in the amount of $103,322 including lease payments and program fees. The Senior Services Fund in the amount of $701,685 includes an operating budget transfer. The Neighborhood Guild Fund requires no tax dollars for its budget of $714,583. The Community Recreation Center budget in the amount of $613,447 includes an operating budget transfer. The Debt Service Fund revenues include State Aid and a reduced amount of operating budget transfer for a total fund amount of $2,031,152. The Water, Wastewater and Solid Waste Funds are Enterprise Funds.
Council Vice President Collins arrives.
When the Council adopted their Preliminary Budget with a modified Reduction Option #3, they requested a review of the operating budget line items to seek additional savings to reach the additional reduction amount of $120,208 in Option #4 without the use of Unassigned Fund Balance. Department Heads were directed to review their budgets and submit line item reductions equal to the Department’s proportional share of that amount along with the associated potential impact on services. The Interim Town Manager reviews the General Fund Reduction Considerations. Option 3A is an additional reduction of $56,600 with minimal impact on services. Option 4A includes reductions in 3A and additional reductions of $63,608 that would impact services. Option 3A would result in an increase of 1.72% over the current year, and a tax rate of $10.96. Option 4A would result in an increase of 1.63% over the current year, and a tax rate of $10.95. Option 4B would include the minimal impact reduction of $56,600 plus utilize $63,608 in Unassigned Fund Balance to avoid cuts that would impact to services.
Council President McEntee opens the floor to public comments.
Paul Follett is present and questions the 7% increase in the General Fund.
The Interim Town Manager explains the major impacts are the addition of a third full shift of Emergency Medical Services starting in January 2023, plus contractual obligations. Mrs. Murphy notes that most departments are level funded.
Roland Benjamin is present and expresses concern with an increase in spending across both the municipal and school funds, and the MOE for school funding.
Dorald Beasley is present and comments on the Town’s rating in the Rhode Island and Massachusetts School Districts testing, per pupil costs, and declining student enrollment.
James O’Neill is present and comments on student enrollment, FTE levels, and State Aid to Schools declining when they should be higher in comparison to other towns.
Dorald Beasley comments on cost of living and Social Security increases compared to school employees salary increases, and speaks in support of building a new high school.
Paul Follett comments on good management practices.
James O’Neill questions an increase in services of $1.4 million for students leaving the school district.
Raquel Pellerin, School CFO explains there are slight increases in tuition costs, a trend of students going to CTE programs; the overall budget increase is 0.53%; there is a $500,000 increase in transportation costs.
Discussion ensues regarding out of district students.
Dorald Beasley comments on the school’s strategic plan to emphasize STEM, a decrease in students test scores, and that level funding and loss in enrollment equal a higher cost per student.
Councilwoman Rose discusses testing scores, the math interventionist program, and notes that students are not getting lost because of RICAS scores, they are being identified in other ways.
Paula Whitford, School Committee Chair comments that the school district needs an overhaul with fixing learning gaps and problems that have been going on for a long time. It is a process to fix them.
Councilwoman Bergner thanks Dr. Pallotta for all his work as Interim School Superintendent.
Dorald Beasley comments that the MOE for the School Fund should be based on enrollment.
Council Vice President Collins notes that there is a declining population in schools across the state, and asks the School CFO to explain the MOE.
Ms. Pellerin reports that the calculation of MOE by enrollment is not done in the State. There are several variables used, not just the number of students, including meeting the State Basic Education Plan (BEP), and notes there are items that cannot be reduced. The RI Department of Education is in the process of reviewing the BEP and has implemented the use of a state-wide Chart of Accounts by school districts.
Council Vice President Collins discusses the Town having a good school system, and notes that some of the negativity is leading to less teacher satisfaction, we need to support them not create an atmosphere of attacking them.
Dr. Pallotta, Interim School Superintendent notes that the School Department has taken the first steps forward, cut 18 positions, and created a plan to reconfigure the district to reduce future costs. The School’s original request for an increase of $2 million was reduced to $517,000, and they are now working on the last $350,000 to balance the budget. They can’t control some costs like out of district tuition, and have been transparent in their process.
Kate Macinanti, School Committee Member notes the progress made by this School Committee, Interim Superintendent and Chief Financial Officer, and that they now have a line item budget. She comments on the need to support students, notes it is not a time for large budget cuts, and they need time to implement their three-year plan.
Councilwoman Bergner comments that the redistricting savings should be used in a responsible way.
Council President McEntee acknowledges the work done by the School Committee, and notes the hiring of a new School Superintendent.
UNANIMOUSLY VOTED: to close the Public Hearing.
UNANIMOUSLY VOTED: to adjourn at 8:25 PM.
Susan M. Flynn, CMC
Town Clerk