Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

WEST WARWICK, R.I. -- The Town Council will hold a second Financial Town Meeting on June 25 and expects to present a new spending plan for the fiscal year that begins July 1 to replace the $79.7 million budget voters rejected last month.

The council unanimously voted at its Tuesday meeting to reconvene the town meeting held May 19. At that fateful meeting, taxpayers overwhelmingly said no to the council's $30.5 million municipal budget and no to the schools $42.9 million budget. They also said no increasing the tax levy by 4.75 percent, representing a roughly $2.2 million increase, the maximum allowed under state law this year.

Only 416 taxpayers attended the town meeting, out of 17,401 of the town's registered voters, representing roughly 3 percent of the electorate.

By voting down all the budgets and refusing to give officials the authorization to increase the tax levy, the counci must to run the town with the current year budget, as stipulated by town charter. Going forward into the next fiscal cycle, using the 2009 budget leaves the town with a shortfall.

In an effort to avoid a second "no" vote, the council plans to also present a "worst case scenario," of sorts, Councilman Peter F. Calci said. It will outline specific services that will be cut to make up the shortfall, pegged earlier this month at $2.5 million.

"Most [of the budget] will be the same. There might be some small adjustments," Calci said Wednesday. "The biggest difference we'll have, without a doubt, is we'll know at the meeting the consequences of voting it down."

In addition, the town is anticipating less revenue coming from the Town Clerk's office, the building office and fewer revenue projections due to changes in the state's motor vehicle tax collection.

 Tags  budgets RI West Warwick

Comments

Just Wondering? said:

It was stated at the previous budget meeting that the Municipal Budget, including Public Works, Police and Fire, was in line and balanced yet, it was voted down as well. Now, even though these 3 budgets do not seem to be the problem in the town, they stand to Lose The Most regarding any future cut-backs. Isn't there another Department in the town, whose budget was determined to be Over-Budget, that should stand to face the most cut-backs out of all of them? Wouldn't that make sense? Just Wondering??????

Link | June 12, 2009 2:04 PM
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david said:

It would make sense "just wondering".

If the police and fire and DPW can get their budgets in line then everyother dept. should be able to. Those are the three hardest budgets since they require the most equipment and OT hours. If they can figure it out why can't the other depts. I don't understand why the town cant run on last years budget (which is what the budget will be if we vote no) ITS TIME TO CUT SPENDING not ask for MORE money!

Link | June 24, 2009 4:03 AM
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Just Wondering? said:

And the answer is: The Caruolo Act! Once the schools win that litigation and T. Williamson collects his attorney fees from the town AGAIN, there will be a mandatory tax increase imposed on the taxpayers to pay them what they WANT! There will be no voting at that time. In the mean time, they put on this horse and pony show in which they threaten to lay off other union employees because they can't MAKE the schools give anymore and yet, they fail to mention what will happen as a result of the Caruolo suit. These other three unions, who have already made major concessions, have suffered layoffs and have cut back on manning, should not have to bear their burden once again. Does that make sense? Just Wondering????

Link | June 25, 2009 1:23 AM
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