Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

WEST WARWICK, R.I. -- Townspeople will decide Tuesday night at the annual Financial Town Meeting on a $79.7 million budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1.

The meeting begins at 7 p.m., and will be at the West Warwick High School auditorium on Factory Street. The doors open at 6 p.m. Resident Kenneth Kurkoski will be the moderator.

The proposed budget accounts for a municipal-side spending plan of $30.5 million, while the School Department's budget is proposed by the town at $49.2 million, the same amount voters approved at last year's town meeting. At Tuesday's meeting, school officials expect to present voters with a $50.1 million budget.

According to figures provided by town Finance Director Malcolm Moore, the fiscal 2010 budget calls for a residential tax rate of $16.82, per $1,000 of assessed property value, a $1.10 increase over the current rate. For commercial properties, the rate would increase to $22.69 per $1,000 of assessed property value, a $1.22 hike over the current rate.

The proposed tax levy would be $49.8 million, an increase of $2.1 million over the current levy.

Included in the municipal budget under debt service is a line item for $600,000. The amount represents the first payment on a 20-year bond to pay the town's $10 million share in a settlement to victims of the Station Nightclub Fire of 2003.

Meanwhile, the schools are engaged in a Caruolo action lawsuit against the town, in which they seek an additional $3.3 million toward the current fiscal 2009 budget. School officials say the extra money is necessary to operate the district and provide the basic education to the roughly 3,600 students enrolled in the schools are set by law, contract and regulation.

The case is scheduled to continue Monday at 2 p.m. in Superior Court, Warwick, and is expected to continue Tuesday, which would be the sixth day of trial.

Last year, the schools pursued a Caruolo action against the town for $1.4 million more, but the case was settled out of court.

 Tags  budgets Financial Town Meeting RI Station Fire West Warwick

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