REGULAR SESSION

 

MARCH 20, 2023

 

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 20^th day of March 2023 at 6:00 PM.

 

PRESENT:     Rory H. McEntee, President

Michael K. Marran, Vice President

Patricia A. Alley

Deborah D. Bergner

Jessica L. Rose

 

 

1.         A.        PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG

 

The Pledge of Allegiance to the flag is given.

 

B.        LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT STATEMENT

 

The Land Acknowledgement Statement is read.

 

2.         ROLL CALL

 

Roll Call is taken and all members are present.

 

3.         NEW BUSINESS

 

A.        James M. Manni, Town Manager reviews highlights of the Town Manager’s Proposed Municipal Budget Program for FY 2023-2024. There is a proposed tax levy increase of 1.63% over FY 2022-2023 and a proposed tax rate increase of 1.10% from $10.95 to $11.07. A reduction of $917,708 or -2.9% was made in the Town’s Operating Budget requests through the budget review process by the Town Manager. An additional $100,000 in reductions was necessary based on a 9.4% increase in healthcare rates for next year. Ninety-five percent of the Town’s Operating Budget is fixed costs. Two thirds of the increase is due to Police Department contractual increases.

 

Brian Silvia, Finance Director reviews a summary of budget drivers that total an increase of $1,858,444. Reductions to Emergency Medical Services additional staff positions and Outside Agencies resulted in a decrease of $394,166 for a net increase of $1,464,278. The Finance Director reviews the General Fund summary of expenditures and summary of revenues in the amount of $104,997,389 which includes all funds.   

 

Mr. Silvia reviews the Property Tax Distribution breakdown which indicates that the General Fund at $17,439,623 accounts for 23%, the School Department at $55,994,773 accounts for 74% and Senior Services, the Community Recreation Center, Wastewater Fund and Debt Service account for the remainder. The Property Tax Levy Rate Allocation history for the past 11 years between the Town and School is reviewed. The projected FY 2023-2024 Property Tax Roll is $6,879,654,550.

 

The Finance Director reviews the Town Budget General Fund by function, including General Government, General Services, Public Safety, Public Works, Parks and Recreation, Library, Non-Departmental and Capital Outlay for a total proposed amount of $30,808,333. The total School Operating Fund is proposed at $62,635,680 with an anticipated increase in State Aid to Education and level funding of the Property Tax Transfer to the School Fund at $55,994,773.

 

Special Revenue Funds consisting of the Peace Dale Office Building Fund, Senior Services Fund, Neighborhood Guild Fund and Community Recreation Center Fund are proposed at $2,418,847 for FY 2023-2024. The Enterprise Funds consisting of the Water, Wastewater and Solid Waste Funds are proposed at $7,219,144. Other Fund Transfers are operating transfers to the School Department, Senior Services, Community Recreation Center, Debt Services Fund and Wastewater Fund totaling $58,146,692. Fund Balance applied to various funds for FY 2023-2024 is projected at $1.6 million. The Undesignated Fund balance as of June 30, 2022 is $15,639,093.

 

Mr. Silvia reviews a summary of proposed changes to the Town Manager’s Budget, including an expenditure adjustment of $16,585 for the Canvassing Authority to conduct the Presidential Preference Primary in Spring 2024, and a revenue correction to State Library General Aid in the amount of $20,006. The proposed tax rate will remain at $11.07 per thousand dollars of assessed value. The Tax Revenue Analysis Chart is briefly reviewed. The proposed budgetary tax revenue based on net assessed values of real property and tangible personal property is $75,167,725.

 

Council President McEntee asks if the grant writer to be hired for the Police Department could be utilized for all Town departments.

 

The Town Manager advises that a Request for Quotation will be prepared for a grant writer to handle police and municipal grants. Mr. Manni notes that the Town has received new information on 2 grants that are available to apply for the Emergency Medical Services Building and the Peace Dale Library through Congressman Magaziner’s office.

 

Council Vice President Marran asks if any update has been received regarding the State Aid To Education. Mr. Silvia responds there has not.

 

Councilwoman Bergner asks if there is any answer to the inquiry on per pupil cost for Maintenance of Effort requirements. Mr. Silvia responds that there have been 2 conversations with the State, and the hope is to have answers by the Final Budget Adoption in April.

 

Council President McEntee asks if fund balance in excess of 17% should be put against debt service. Mr. Silvia responds that rating agencies prefer those funds be used for one time expenses. He notes that the Town is not substantially over the recommended amount.  

 

4.         PUBLIC COMMENTS

 

Council President McEntee invites residents to come forward with comments.

 

Henry DiMarco comments on the Town’s decision to stop plowing private roads, and asks that some roads be grandfathered in for that service.

 

Libby Nestor comments in support of advancing the High School project, and deferred maintenance not being included in the bond amount.

 

Discussion ensues.

 

Jim O’Neill inquires how much of the taxable property increase is due to the Property Revaluation compared to new construction.

 

The Finance Director responds that the bulk is due to revaluation but it also includes Town growth.

 

Discussion ensues, and it is

 

UNANIMOUSLY VOTED: to adopt the FY2023-2024 Town Council Preliminary Budget as proposed in the Town Manager’s FY2023-2024 Proposed Budget, with amendments as presented, as follows:

 

 

 

 

UNANIMOUSLY VOTED: to adjourn at 6:41 PM.

 

Susan M. Flynn, CMC

Town Clerk