Politics & Government
Council OKs Tax Increase, Looks To Adopt Budget Tonight
The NK Town Council approved a 2.79 percent tax increase and looks to adopt a budget tonight.
Property taxes will be on the rise next year for North Kingstown, but not as much as previously proposed.
The North Kingstown Town Council voted unanimously to raise property taxes by 2.79 percent to $17.31, an increase of 46 cents per thousand dollars of property valuation. Town Manager Michael Embury’s original budget, proposed in February, looked to raise taxes by as much as 4.25 percent. For the average home in North Kingstown, valued at $328,000, that would entail a $150 annual increase in taxes.
The council looks to adopt the new budget tonight after making several changes Tuesday, including a vote to level-fund the school department — denying the department’s request for $713,000 in additional funds. Council members pointed to declining enrollment and cost per student rates as justification for the cut.
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“I do see level funding as a compromise,” said Council President Elizabeth Dolan. “It’s not a criticism. It’s a financial reality and we’re all in this financial challenge.”
Dolan urged the School Committee to “be creative” and said she had “a lot of confidence” that it could be done.
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Prior to the vote, School Committee Chair Richard Welch urged the council to reconsider the cut during public comment. According to Welch, cutting the $713,000 would negatively impact the school system and, in turn, hurt property values.
“What we have left to cut is going to hurt the town’s school program,” said Welch. “It’s not a threat.”
Council members took aim at the school department’s budget, with Councilman Charles Brennan criticizing answers from Superintendent Phil Thornton and Director of Administrative Services Ned Draper during a joint meeting between the school committee and town council.
“They’re eating out of our rice bowl,” said Councilman Charles Stamm. “And the rice bowl is not of the town council. It’s the taxpayers’ bowl.”
Another change to the budget is the elimination of eight vacant firefighter positions. In last week’s council meeting, Embury warned that the impending conclusion of arbitration between the town and the firefighters union may affect this decision. According to Embury, the arbitration process could cost the town as much as $375,000. Additionally, the council voted to freeze pay for non-union town employees in a 3-2 vote with Carol Hueston and Charles Brennan opposing. According to Embury, this move could potentially impact 30 employees and would save the town about $59,000.
Services like , without cuts or reductions, in the upcoming budget. (A prior proposal looked to reduce an animal control officer from full- to part-time, a move that would have saved the town $45,000.)
The council also considered cutting both the student resource officer at the high school and the DARE officer for the elementary schools. A motion by Stamm to cut both positions failed after not receiving a second.
“I think the burden should be on the schools to provide that service,” said Stamm. “It’s an educational thrust and could and should be done by the school department.”
A motion made by Brennan, who initially suggested adding a SRO to , to retain both positions passed 4-1, with Stamm dissenting.
“For this budget season I agree with [funding both positions,]” said Councilman Michael Bestwick. “But in the future I’d like to see it go to the school budget.”
The council also discussed raising the tax levy from 2.79 percent to 3 percent, with the increase going toward unfunded liability and pensions funds. The motion to raise the tax levy faltered 2-3, with Dolan and Stamm supporting the move.
“It’s here and it’s real and if we don’t address it now we’re going to address it next year and the year after,” Dolan said.
Tonight’s meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Conference Room.
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