Politics & Government
Council Approves $95-Million Budget
The Town Council approved a $95-million budget that level-funds the school department and freezes pay for town employees.
The North Kingstown Town Council swiftly approved the fiscal year 2012 budget last night – a budget that will raise property taxes by .
The $95-million budget is up approximately $2.3 million from last year, .
The town’s general fund will drop by $7,800 while the school department’s budget jumps by $2.5 million. According to Superintendent Phil Thornton in previous budget meetings, $1.2 million of that $2.5 million in increases will come from the department’s undesignated fund balance. Earlier this week, the Town Council voted to level-fund the department, denying its request for an additional $713,000 from the town.
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For the average priced home in North Kingstown, approximately $328,000, the 2.79 percent tax hike would mean a $150 annual increase in taxes per household. Embury enumerated that the tax levy may be even lower than the approved $17.31 once the tax roll is certified by the assessor.
The increased levy adds $1.99 million dollars in tax money to the budget. According to Embury, this falls short of plugging the $2.2 million hole left by the departure of the motor vehicle excise tax reimbursement this year, hence the added cuts this year.
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The new budget also freezes pay for numerous non-union town employees, saving the town $59,000. Additionally, eight vacant positions at the fire department will not be filled, totaling up to almost $450,000 saved.
The North Kingstown School Committee will meet May 10 at 7 p.m. at to discuss the budget.
2010-2011 Budget
2011-2012 Budget
Difference
General Fund
$24,937.007
$24,929,211
-$7,796
School Fund
$55,571,351
$58,092,043
+$2,520,692
Debt Service
$5,946,283
$5,493,088
-$453,195
Library Fund
$1,393,794
$1,420,732
+$26,938
Municipal Court
$254,100
$247,928
-$6,172
School Capital Reserve
$63,914
$117,300
+$53,386
Water Fund
$2,913,204
$3,096,381
+$183,177
Quonset/Davisville Recreation Fund
$1,820,170
$1,792,549
-$27,621
TOTAL
$92,899,823
$95,189,232
+$2,289,409
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