TOWN OF WEST WARWICK RHODE ISLAND 1170 Main Street West Warwick, RI  02893 (401) 822-9200 www.westwarwickri.org

 

WEST WARWICK TOWN COUNCIL

Town Council Budget Public Hearing #2

Town Council Chambers

April 12, 2022

6:00 P.M.

(Immediately following the Sewer Commission Public Hearing)

 

 

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YOUTUBE LINK:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGK1k6co83ptCoD6hYWSMxA

 

AGENDA WITH ATTACHMENTS CAN BE VIEWED AT:  https://clerkshq.com/westwarwick-ri

 

M I N U T E S

 

*Please Note:  Any matter listed on this agenda may be acted upon by the Town Council*

 

A.         Meeting called to order by the Town Council President at 7:07 P.M.

 

B.         Prayer led by Council

 

C.         Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag

 

D.        Roll Call taken by Town Clerk

Councilman Jason Licciardi - Present

Councilman Jason Messier - Present

Councilman Mark Bourget - Present

Council Vice President Maribeth Williamson - Present

Council President David Gosselin - Present

 

E.         Quorum on Record Declared by Town Clerk

 

F.         Public Hearing on the proposed FY2023 (July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023) Municipal Budget

 

M. Knott gives the following summary of the budget:

 

Tonight, we start the Town Council’s process of reviewing and vetting the proposed FY2023 Budget.  I believe that our Department Heads continue to be considerate of the Town’s fiscal constraints and the fluctuating status of the national economy, while drafting requests that will support the continuation of the services expected by our community and provide for the upgrading of capital items necessary to provide those services safely and more efficiently. 

 

I would like to acknowledge the hard work of our Finance Director, Kristen Benoit, in producing this proposal and assisting in my continued integration into municipal finance.  This proposal process has been affected by the uncertainty of a finalized state budget, the national economy, inflation and supply costs.  How these factor into our FY2023 revenue and expenditure planning is a work in progress.

 

FY2023 Budget Key Points:

·       Total Budget increase is $2,462,932  (inclusive of $422,973 in municipal expenses, $1,539,959 for School State Aid pass through appropriation, and a $500,000 increase to School Department appropriation).

·       Levy increase is 1.98% or $1,305,278.

·       ***Due to property revaluations, Estimated Tax Rate decrease is 25.52% dependent on the finalized Tangible annual returns due shortly.

·       Funds included in General Government for non-union personnel salary adjustments.

·       Capital expenditure requests total $164,040. (Planning on proposing use of ARPA funds.)

·       100% of our Pension Annual Required Contribution (ARC) is included.

·       Based upon claims experience in FY2021, a 10% increase to the working rates has been applied.  Our healthcare consultant concurred this increase was reasonable.

·       Increase to Workers Comp is due to additional billing received after the Workers Comp Audit.  Total FY2022 expense expected to be $400,000.  The adjustment for FY2023 is only slightly higher due to our Experience Modification decreasing for favorable claims experience.

·       The tax collection rate remains the same at 96.8%.

·       Proposed use of Fund Balance has been eliminated.

I look forward to working with you to craft a finalized product that will be in the best interest of our hard-working and deserving community.

 

K. Benoit reviews the projected tax rates.  Property values have increased approximately 29.5%.  Single family home tax rates will be going from $23 per 1,000 to $18.03 per thousand.  The tax rate for code three apartments will be going from $34.70 to $27.15.  The commercial rate will be going from $32.43 to $30.77.  Multi family, non-owner occupied units will be going from $29.89 to $19.51. 

 

S. Saccoccio explains that an elderly tax freeze would need state enabling legislation.  The town used to have a tax freeze that ended in the 1970’s.  The town stopped it because it was costing the Town a lot money.  Currently the exemption is income based.  He reviews the exemptions and the cost to the Town.  Currently there are 1800 elderly tax exemptions in the amount of $258 off their tax bill. The cost to town $472,000.  There is also a variable tax exemption which is income based.  Currently only 82 people are using that exemption.  If the exemption was doubled it would increase the tax rate by approximately 30 cents per thousand.    He also notes that less than 70 people have called for evaluation appeals. 

 

K. Benoit states that the projected tax rate for a single family home is $18.03 per thousand. 

 

D. Read asks what is being budgeted for Recreation revenue?  He would like to see any surplus go back to recreation. 

 

J. Licciardi suggests the Recreation Committee puts a proposal before Council.

 

J. Rosa, Sweetwater Drive in Coventry, asks about the tax rate for properties six units or greater.  His values have gone up and he is concerned with the tax increase. 

 

Andrew Vause, from Cranston, owns two 2-5 unit dwellings.  He has long term tenants.  He is concerned with the tax rate increase.  He doesn’t want to increase his tenants rent. 

 

T. Oates, 6 Colonial Way, would like to see the chairs in chambers cleaned. 

 

G.        Adjournment

 

MOTION made by M. Bourget, second by J. Messier to adjourn at 7:57 P.M.                  All Ayes

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

_______________________________

Sarah S. Rapose, CMC, Town Clerk