REGULAR SESSION

 

APRIL 18, 2022

 

At a REGULAR SESSION of the Town Council of the Town of South Kingstown, County of Washington, in the State of Rhode Island held at the Town Hall, in and for said Town on the 18^th day of April 2022 at 7:00 PM.

 

            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 all members are present.

 

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; 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 notes that this is the second Public Hearing on the budget as required by the Town Charter. Mrs. Murphy reviews the budget process to date. The Town Council’s Final Budget will be adopted at a Public Hearing during their Regular Session on Monday, April 25, 2022. The budget petition schedule is reviewed.  

 

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 Option #3 reductions amounting to $344,171, reducing the property tax rate to $10.97. 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 adopted budget reflects an increase in the tax levy of $1,328,481 or 1.79% over the current year.

 

The Warrant presents the overall Town Council Preliminary Budget for FY 2022-2023 as adopted in the amount of $102,352,828.

 

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 Town’s Transfer to the School Fund is level funded at $55,994,773 to meet Maintenance of Effort (MOE) as required by State law. 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.

 

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 presents the General Fund Reduction Considerations that resulted from that departmental review. Option 3A proposes additional reductions 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 services. Option 5 presents a 0% budget increase, including all cuts adopted in the Preliminary Budget, use of Unassigned Fund Balance, plus unidentified reductions in personnel and/or services of $1,217,742 resulting in a tax rate of $10.77. 

 

Council President McEntee opens the floor to public comments.

 

Jim O’Neill is present and comments on personnel reductions in the School Department, prior budget referendums to reduce the School budget, enrollment decline and FTE increases.

 

Greg Sweet is present and comments on the number of School Department FTEs being reduced by 18, the budget increase in general, and asks if High Schools students could opt out of busing?

 

Michelle Brousseau, School Committee Vice Chair reviews the busing opt out program.

 

Kate Macinanti, School Committee Member and member of their Transportation Committee notes that in the past, opt out options never reduced the number of bus runs, and discusses bus route issues and walking distances.

Greg Sweet commends the School Committee for doing a good job, and states the new Superintendent was well chosen; comments on the Maintenance of Effort requirement for the School Fund Transfer and asks if $3 million could be cut from the budget.

 

Raquel Pellerin, School Department CFO responds that the School is currently held harmless for reductions in enrollment by State Aid to Education, and that there are requirements to be met for expenditures and the Basic Education Program. The School Department would have to petition the RI Department of Education (RIDE) to review.

 

Councilwoman Bergner comments that the School Department cut 24 FTEs, but 6 were brought back with grant funding.

 

Ms. Pellerin notes those positions are covered by federal ESSER funding. 

 

Councilwoman Bergner inquires about out of district enrollment numbers.

 

Ms. Pellerin notes there are currently 107 students, CTE students are projected at 100. Twenty-two students are graduating, and they are looking at the middle school numbers. State and Charter School enrollment is projected at 105 students.

 

Dorald Beasley is present and comments on the property revaluation, tax increases and the effect on residents with fixed incomes; student enrollment declines and the number of FTEs; redistricting proposals and the pre-school program.

 

Carol Vetter, School Committee Member discusses redistricting of pre-school and pre-K students.

 

Jim O’Neill comments on previous School administration’s plans to close Curtis Corner Middle School, the history of State Aid to Education since 2010, and construction of Broad Rock Middle School.

 

Viera Levitt is present and comments in opposition to closing Wakefield School, in support of teachers, and regarding the effect of redistricting on the ability of students to walk to school.

 

Discussion ensues regarding the distance between Wakefield and Peace Dale Elementary Schools.

 

Discussion ensues regarding school capacity after redistricting. The estimate for next year at 60-68% will go up when 5^th grade classes are brought back to the elementary schools. The capacities are restricted by use of rooms for other than classrooms. It is noted that not every child can walk to Wakefield or Peace Dale Schools, and decisions are data-driven.

 

Dorald Beasley comments on per pupil costs, testing results, teacher salaries, and school facilities construction. 

 

Valerie Speredelozzi is present and comments on issues of school closure, in support of the plan for redistricting, transportation differences and the average time spent on buses. She notes the School Committee has worked hard, but we need facility improvements.

 

Paula Whitford, School Committee Chairwoman comments on her hope that redistricting will reduce bus transportation when programs are offered across the district.

 

Viera Levitt comments that young children cannot walk from Wakefield to Peace Dale School, and that people appreciate walkability and the small community school.

 

Jim O’Neill comments that the schools need better management, we need a new High School, and asks where the $1 million School budget for services is being spent.

 

The School CFO responds that it is a grouping within the Town budget. Transportation, out of district tuition and contracted services are going up. The Uniform Chart of Accounts is mandated, with expenses by line item. Utilities are grouped with supplies, etc. It is different that the municipal budget. The proposed School budget is an increase of only $328,000.

 

Dorald Beasley comments on the projected enrollment drop, pushing to bring 6^th grade classes back to the elementary schools, and eliminating teachers who aren’t doing their jobs.

 

Paula Whitford, School Committee Chairwoman comments that School Committee members represent students, families, and teachers. She notes that Dr. Pallotta has done much as the Interim Superintendent and that Dr. Prince will pick up from there and work with local administrators. It would be unfair to evaluate teachers when the Superintendent doesn’t know them. Things take time, and decisions are hard.

 

Viera Levitt comments that redistricting is being rushed, and questions the savings from closing Wakefield School and the cost of transportation to other schools.

 

Councilwoman Bergner asks about funding the Community Resource Officers after the 2 year grant program.

 

Interim Police Chief Alfred Bucco notes that $160,000 is budgeted for those 2 officers, with a total of $407,000 for the 2 year program.

 

Paula Whitford, School Committee Chairwoman asks if professional development is included in that budget, and the Interim Police Chief confirms that it is.

 

Discussion ensues relative to year end transfer of surplus funds to capital projects and debt service. The School Department also funds capital projects with Unassigned Fund Balance.

 

Councilwoman Kelso notes that the Town has a very good bond rating, and notes that too much use of UFB will jeopardize our facilities in the future.

 

Michael Marran, School Committee Member reiterates that Dr. Pallotta knows that level funding by the Town is a clear message the committee will work with. Mr. Marran comments that building a new High School will not raise test scores, the School Department will be turning over 2 buildings to the Town for them to decide what to do with, and discusses the RIDE reimbursement of up to 50% for school facilities construction.

 

Kate Macinanti, School Committee member assures residents that teachers and administrators will know students’ names, and that children will be fine wherever they attend school.

 

Council President McEntee notes that it is important for the Town Council and School Committee to move forward with unity.

 

UNANIMOUSLY VOTED: to close the Public Hearing. 

 

UNANIMOUSLY VOTED:  to adjourn at 8:55 PM.

 

 

Susan M. Flynn, CMC

Town Clerk