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

 

WEST WARWICK TOWN COUNCIL

FY27 Budget Workshop

Town Council Chambers

March 17, 2026

6:00 P.M.

(or immediately following the previous meeting)

 

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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 6:46 P.M.

 

B.         Roll Call taken by Town Clerk

Councilman Mark Dennison - Present

Councilman Jason Licciardi - Present

Councilman Jason Messier - Present

Council Vice President Maribeth Williamson - Present

Council President David Gosselin - Present  

 

C.         Quorum on Record Declared by Town Clerk

 

D.        Town Manager Overview of the Budget Process

 

Manager Knott reads the following statement:

 

At the Public Workshops the Town Council and the public start the process of reviewing and vetting the proposed FY2027 Budget as presented by the respective Department Heads and the Town Manager.  We then hold two Public Hearings where the Council will make adjustments to this proposal after considering public comments and welcome input.

 

Our Department Heads continued to be considerate of the Town’s fiscal constraints and the fluctuating status of the economy while drafting requests that will support the continuation of the services expected by our community and provide for the upgrading of the infrastructure necessary to offer those services safely and more efficiently. 

 

Our Finance Director, Kristen Benoit, continues to keep us on a reasonable and conservative path.   Our recent budget processes continue to be affected by the uncertainty of a finalized state budget and federal funding sources, the national economy, inflation fluctuations, and rising supply costs.  How these all affect our FY2027 revenue and expenditure planning is a work in progress.

 

FY2027 Budget Key Points:

·       Total Budget increase is $6,590,253.  (inclusive of $4,171,167.28 in municipal expenses, $1,919,086 for School State Aid pass through appropriation, and a request to increase the School Department local appropriation by $500,000).

·       Levy increase is 4.0% or $2,824,613.54

·       Approximate tax rate increase is 4.15%.  (This may fluctuate slightly as the Tangible annual returns come back.)

·       Capital expenditure requests were eliminated in my proposal with the exception of a $33,000 placeholder for roadway improvement projects. We hope to restore several key needs if funds become available or federal, state, and private grants and aid get awarded. 

·       We have fully transitioned into the Employee Retirement System of Rhode Island (ERSRI). Rates provided by ERSRI have been applied to all pensionable salary types within the respective departments.  The Legacy Plan ARC has been increased for FY2027 by $406,234.  $44,819 applies to the School Department and $361,415 applies to the Municipal Departments.

·       A 5.2% increase in our healthcare working rates has been applied. Transition to the RI Interlocal Trust for healthcare management has been successful. The actual increase is 8.21%, however we have excess funds in our Medical/Dental Internal Service Fund that will cover the excess increase.

·       A 7.0% increase was applied to our Property and Liability insurance premiums from FY2026 rates.

·       The Worker’s Comp line was not increased as the premium came in less than expected in FY2026.  Work Related Injury expense is included in this line as well.

·       The tax collection rate remains at 97.7%.

·       We do have a planned use of Fund Balance (savings account) for FY2027 in the amount of $1,500,000.  This includes $1,000,000 to cover anticipated litigation costs in pending tax matters and $500,000 to cover the request by the School Department for an increase in local appropriation.

·       Debt Service is increasing by $1,196,942 in FY2027.  This is inclusive of an additional $1,300,000 for the new school building bond and a reduction of $103,058 in existing debt service.

·       We look forward to collaborating with the Council to craft a finalized product that will be in the best interest of our hard-working and deserving community.  We are targeting the May 5^th Council meeting for a budget vote.

 

E.         Budget Workshop – FY27 (July 1, 2026 - June 30, 2027)

           

The Town Council will hear the following proposed departmental budgets:

 

·       School Department

Karen Tarasevich, Superintendent, presented the proposed FY2027 School Department budget, outlining priorities centered on student services and fiscal responsibility to the Town. 

Key discussion points included:

·       A slight decrease in student enrollment offset by significant increases in high-need populations:

o   Multi-Language Learners

o   Students receiving Special Education services

·       Substantial cost increases for:

o   Out-of-district Special Education placements

o   Charter and Career & Technical Education tuition

·       Tuition rates established by RIDE after local budgets are adopted, creating budget uncertainty

·       Continued challenges related to unfunded state mandates and transportation requirements

 

The School Department reported:

·       Total proposed budget of approximately $79.6 million

·       Net increase of approximately 2.3% over FY2026

·       Reduction of over $3.3 million from the department’s original draft budget through:

o   Anticipated layoffs

o   Reductions in substitute coverage

o   Transportation efficiencies

o   Programmatic and operational cutbacks

 

Council members engaged in extensive discussion regarding:

·       State aid uncertainty

·       Staffing requirements

·       Long-term sustainability of education funding

·       Impact of school choice policies on municipal finances

 

No action was taken.

 

·       Building

 

Manager Knott presented the Building Department budget.  The department budget is mostly unchanged.  One adjustment was highlighted to increase the maintenance and repair expense line from $40,000 to $56,125, attributed to increased material costs and the growing need for repairs at municipal facilities.

 

The Council discussed long-term maintenance needs and the importance of addressing deferred repairs to avoid larger future capital expenditures.

·       Tax Assessor

 

·       Board of Assessment Review

 

Sal Saccoccio, Tax Assessor, presented his FY2027 budget, explaining that the primary increase reflects the inclusion of funding to begin the next statistical revaluation in January, rather than waiting until July. This approach allows additional time for completion and accuracy and avoids condensed timelines.

S. Saccoccio noted that the Town is eligible for 80% reimbursement from the State of Rhode Island for revaluation expenses as a distressed community, with reimbursement recorded as General Fund revenue. Council members discussed transparency, workload implications, and recent improvements in assessment accuracy. Mr. Cotoia also outlined recent tangible tax discoveries resulting from thorough review of filings.

·       Planning

 

Town Planner, Marilyn Shellman, reported minimal changes to the FY2027 Planning Department budget. She advised the Council that the Town’s Comprehensive Plan will be due for update in several years and that funding will need to be planned in advance. The previous Comprehensive Plan update cost approximately $80,000, with anticipated higher costs due to inflation.

 

The Town Manager confirmed that Comprehensive Plan funding was removed from the proposed FY2027 budget but should be revisited in future years to allow adequate preparation time.

 

·       Town Engineer

 

The Town Engineer’s budget was presented with no substantive changes from the manager’s proposed budget. The Town Manager advised that engineering consulting services remained level-funded and are anticipated to support roadway, stormwater, and infrastructure projects as needed.

 

No questions were raised.

 

·       Zoning

 

The Zoning Board budget remained unchanged. The Town Manager explained that professional services expenses cover stenographic transcription of zoning hearings and other legally required services.

 

No questions were raised.

 

·       Department of Public Works

J. Caldwell, DPW Director, provided an overview of the department’s FY2027 budget and reviewed operational highlights from the previous year, including:

·        Snow removal operations during record-breaking storms

·        Completion of significant drainage, roadway, and sidewalk repair projects

·        Storm response and equipment utilization

Storm services expenses, including vendor costs and the rental of two additional trucks, were discussed. J. Caldwell confirmed that trucks are already secured for the upcoming winter season. Snow-related overtime was attributed to the frequency and timing of severe storms occurring on weekends and holidays.

 

The Town Manager and Council discussed ongoing FEMA reimbursement efforts related to the February blizzard and noted that reimbursement eligibility periods remain under review.

 

·       Parks & Recreation Department

 

J. Caldwell, Parks and Recreation Director, reported strong departmental performance, including:

 

·       Increased outside use of athletic fields

·       Improved revenue generation totaling approximately $40,750 for FY2026

·       Continued reinvestment into field maintenance and facility improvements

 

The Town Manager explained that 50% of revenue collected beyond projections will be allocated into a dedicated account for visible capital improvements, such as equipment and field maintenance assets. Staffing levels were reviewed and clarified, with adjustments identified to ensure consistency between adopted positions and operational needs.

 

·       Town Manager

 

Manager Knott states that this budget does not include any changes.  No questions were raised.

 

·       Finance

 

Finance Director Kristen Benoit presented the FY2027 Finance Department budget, noting that:

·       Salaries and benefits remain contractual

·       Audit expenses include both the annual audit and OPEB valuation

·       Software expenses reflect Infinite Visions systems

·       Supplies and operational expenses were reduced where feasible

 

The Finance Director explained revenue assumptions, including investment income projections based on prevailing interest rates and adjusted departmental revenue projections based on current performance.

 

·       General Government

 

General Government budget discussion included:

 

·       Severance and sell-back obligations

·       Retiree health and dental insurance increases

·       Workers’ compensation trends

·       Liability insurance premium increases of approximately 7%

 

Adjustments to managed IT services were also noted, reflecting changes in service providers and cost reductions.

 

·       Housing Board

·       Revenue

·       Street Lighting

 

Council members engaged in cross-departmental discussion focusing on:

 

·       Staffing efficiency

·       Service delivery impacts

·       Capital equipment longevity

·       Storm-related costs and long-term planning

·       Balancing fiscal restraint with operational demands

 

No formal action was taken.

 

F.         Adjournment

 

MOTION made by J. Messier, seconded by M. Dennison to adjourn at 7:59 P.M.                All Ayes

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

Sarah S. Rapose, MMC

Town Clerk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Agenda posted March 13, 2026 at the West Warwick Town Hall, the West Warwick Senior Center, the West Warwick Public Library, on ClerkBase, and electronically filed on the Secretary of State’s website in accordance with the Open Meetings Act.

 

 

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