Town Meeting Moderator Larry Anderson and Town Council President Robert Mushen field an audience question.
By William Rupp
Approximately 250 Little Compton voters approved on Tuesday evening, May 20, a $12.7 million spending plan for the next fiscal year at the annual Financial Town Meeting.
There wasn’t a dissenting voice in the auditorium of the Wilbur School on the Town Commons.
Voters also approved the spending of up to $400,000 more to pay for the renovations at the Wilbur & McMahon schools at a special FTM before the start of the regular Financial Town Meeting. No one opposed that proposal either.
The FY 2015 spending plan was approved even though it exceeded the state cap of 4 percent. Taxpayers will see their tax boosted by 4.65 percent next year, said Scott Morrison, chairman of the Budget Committee.
“The budget season has been the most difficult of any in recent history due to the budget and tax impact of the first year of debt service on the school bond,” Mr. Morrison said.
The total cost of this debt service next year will be more than $850,000, with the state reimbursing the town for 40 percent. That leaves the net cost to Little Compton of approximately $510,000, he said, or an expense that increases the tax levy by 4.94 percent all by itself.Mr. Morrison praised the “tremendous cooperation” between the Town Council, School Committee, business manager and department heads in crafting a budget for next year that limited the tax boost to 4.65 percent. That boost raises the property tax rate to $5.63 per thousand of assessed value or $1,680 for a $300,000 home.
The main factor that keeps a tax increase in line with the bond expense, Mr. Morrison said, is that “there is no increase in the required tax levy contribution for the recommended budgets of the three largest town departments: schools, police and fire.”
“All three were level-funded,” Mr. Morrison said. “It keeps the fiscal year 2015 expense the same as the fiscal year 2014 expense.”
Voters also approved more than 50 budget articles, including the spending of up to half a million dollars for the creation of a playing field, tennis courts upgrade and completion of a walking path in the property known as “the Peckham lot.” Half of that expense over the next three years will paid for by a grant from the RI Department of Environmental Management.
Most of the discussion at the FTM revolved around two articles that recommended no funding for the East Bay Community Action Program (EBCAP) and the Prevention Coalition. Each organization had requested $750 from the Budget Committee, which recommended not appropriating any money for the two programs.
Mr. Morrison said the Budget Committee does not favor giving money to private organizations that are not overseen by town officials, boards or commissions.
Representatives for both organizations asked voters to reject the recommendations by the Budget Committee given the good work they do in Little Compton and restore their $750 in funding. The operation of a food pantry, for instance, and the coalition’s attempts to reduce substance abuse were cited.
An amended EBCAP article was defeated in a voice vote; an amended coalition article was defeated by a “standing” vote of 110-93, according to Town Moderator Larry Anderson.
Town Council President Robert Mushen explained at the special FTM why there is a need for up to $400,000 in additional spending for the school renovations. The low bid from the contractor was $400,000 higher than the budget approved overwhelmingly in a town referendum, Mr. Mushen said.
It does not seem likely, however, that the town will have to spend more than about $290,000 to $300,000 above the budget. Mr. Mushen praised the building committee chairman, the town’s business managers and the contractor for working closely together to slice into that potential overspending.
Voting for two new members of the Budget Committee took place at the rear of the auditorium during the FTM and for 30 minutes after adjournment, said Mr. Anderson.