ADMINISTRATIVE BUDGET SESSION

 

MARCH 13, 2019

 

 

At an ADMINISTRATIVE BUDGET SESSION of the Town Council and School Committee 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 13th day of March 2019 at 7:00 PM.

 

PRESENT:        TOWN COUNCIL

 

                        Abel G. Collins, President Bryant DaCruz, Vice President Deborah J. Kelso

                        Rory H. McEntee Joe Viele

 

                        SCHOOL COMMITTEE

 

                        Stephanie Canter, Chairman Michelle Brousseau

                        Alycia Collins Katherine Macinanti Jacy Northup

 

Also present: Robert C. Zarnetske, Town Manager, Patricia Sunderland, Finance Director, Colleen Camp, Executive Assistant, Aimee Reiner, Director of Administrative Services, Dr. Kristen Stringfellow, School Superintendent and Mary Anne Crawford, School Chief Financial Officer.

 

The Pledge of Allegiance is given.

 

A moment of silence is held in recognition of the three local students injured in a car crash this past weekend.

 

Discussion ensues relative to the proposed FY 2019-2020 School budget. The Town Manager comments that in FY 2018-2019 the property tax transfer to the School Fund was

$53,952,664. It is proposed to transfer an additional $539,527 more than was transferred in FY 2018-2019 or $54,492,191, a 1% increase to the property tax transfer. Seventy-six percent of all of the property taxes the Town collects go toward school operations.  The

$539,527 increase to the property tax transfer is being supplemented this year by an additional $500,000 that will go toward debt service on the school construction project that we are anticipating will be successful at some point in the future, so in total it is about a 2% tax commitment to the School Fund.

 

Kristen Stringfellow, School Superintendent comments that on February 12, 2019 the School Committee approved a budget for FY 2019-2020 in the amount of $61,797,342 which necessitated a 2.5% increase over last year’s property tax transfer. Just prior to that meeting the School Department was notified that there would be an additional $90,000 reduction in State Aid to Education.

 

The Superintendent discusses the non-personnel budget reduction taken in the amount of

$715,288.

 

The Superintendent discusses the personnel reduction to the administration and exempt employees in the amount of $307,074.

 

The Superintendent discusses the personnel reduction plan made to NEA-SK Teachers in the amount of $2,063,605.

 

The Superintendent discusses the budget reduction plan as it pertains to personnel in SKESP Support Staff in the amount of $349,426.

 

The Superintendent discusses additional reductions that would be needed for anything less than a 2.5% increase to the property tax transfer.

 

Discussion ensues relative to what the reductions would look like with a 1% property tax transfer.

 

Discussion ensues relative to the School Department’s hiring practices.

 

Discussion ensues relative to the cost per pupil which is around $21,000 in South Kingstown.

 

Discussion ensues relative to the $4,100,000 transportation costs in South Kingstown.

 

Discussion ensues relative to the town needing another EMS vehicle because we are relying too much on our mutual aid agreements with other towns.

 

Discussion ensues relative to the exceptions to the property tax levy cap. You may apply to the state for relief from the cap if you have high debt service or substantial growth in the community.

 

Discussion ensues relative to eliminating the $500,000 set aside for debt service in anticipation of the $76,000,000 bond authorization.

 

Discussion ensues relative to cutting sports, music programs or a school.

 

Discussion ensues in regard to how many children have left the district since September and how many kindergarten registrations we have received for the year beginning September 2019.

 

The following members of the public comment:

Carol Englander

Larry Englander

Robert Hackey

Taylor Ellis

Barbara Crudale

James O’Neill

Brian Nelson

Greg Sweet

Joslin Leasca

Meg Healy

Jason Ralph

Alicia Monnes

Monique Chartier

Dorald Beasley

Christine Pierce

Gary Chapman

Chris Hubbard

Michelle Neri

Tara Apperson

Nick Lapete

Joe Kosiarek

Stacey Bodziony

 

Adjourn at 10:20 PM.

 

ADJOURNED,

 

 

Dale S. Holberton, CMC Town Clerk