[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6116103,"mediaKeyId","2734511-e720f8b51de8c866715492154af91a47","parentId",2734511,"title","Superintendent details Coventry Public Schools budget, highlights CTE tuition outflows and Medicaid reimbursements","audioSeconds",2268,"startMs",3145000,"endMs",5413000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2734511-e720f8b51de8c866715492154af91a47&start=3145&end=5413","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2734511-e720f8b51de8c866715492154af91a47/thumbnail_3145000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6116103/Rhode-Island/Superintendent-details-Coventry-Public-Schools-budget-highlights-CTE-tuition-outflows-and-Medicaid-reimbursements","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6116103-84d322cc0223fa119ff6c314cb6ed00d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771136773&Signature=mlMnDt12JZMmUl-T06fm3rvTgehqu8u5ChE6c0OuflHrYrsWkhyGws91Y9fn14KCQCAKHbB~3MVR4yjihoLu3nDUHzWCHd1OVxLvF5CH3yjX0qw1LvxaftioHe4c5ARQujWry~0mg30wlyCn2HHh1uxOMhroEnWYqAAz7FtQXuOJtTHCYgpOw1yp56XvqWMne~BX7Ihq3iCypZycrUINaL4ANtSJJIW3r3XGdJ0Bmrzqvgi-jFoTdpTX0zs0PBAptEzF6KIO5iGtx0GZ-Udpa47wG8D403jM68w3wo-xb-43T1lJ2KmKy1POFBta9eWKJycL-Jrbt-wrDrIw-dqLOg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town of Coventry Rhode Island","date","2025-03-18T00:00:00Z","article","Coventry — Superintendent Don presented the Coventry Public Schools’ proposed budget during the council’s budget hearing, outlining a 2.42% increase the district is asking the town to fund, revenue strategies that include higher Medicaid reimbursements, and concerns that the state’s treatment of “substantially similar” career and technical education (CTE) programs is costing the district tuition outflows.

“We talk about funding, but we also talk about successful programs that we have in place,” Superintendent Don said, describing a budget that the district says emphasizes student supports, curriculum, and capital needs. He told the council the district’s request lines up with the town’s current budget projection.

CTE programs and tuition outflows

School leaders and council members discussed how students attending CTE programs in other districts create a tuition liability for Coventry when the students’ home district pays the receiving district. Superintendent Don said Coventry is spending roughly $2.6 million annually on tuition to other districts for students attending out-of-district career and technical programs. He and councilors described the state’s “substantially similar” policy as narrow, with many Coventry programs that staff consider similar to others not appearing on the state’s substantially similar list, allowing students to attend comparable programs elsewhere and shift tuition dollars out of Coventry.

Don and council members said they and other municipal leaders are discussing state-level policy changes; a council member said the issue came up at a League of Cities and Towns meeting and urged the town and school leaders to pursue policy changes to better track and limit tuition outflows.

Revenue and expenditures

Superintendent Don reviewed revenue lines the district has advanced, including increased tuition income for preschool and some programs, and stronger Medicaid reimbursements. The district budgeted about $800,000 in Medicaid reimbursements for the current year and reported the reimbursement target had already been reached by February, meaning further Medicaid receipts this year would exceed budget projections. Don said federal ESSER pandemic-era funds had boosted federal revenue in prior years but that those funds have largely ended.

The district also noted a long-run per-pupil expenditure figure below the state average; Don said Coventry’s per-pupil expenditures are lower than many neighboring districts and that the district has pursued grants, rental income, and other revenue sources to offset budget pressures.

Capital needs and previous reductions

Don listed several capital priorities — sprinkler systems, gym work, science-lab renovations, a Western Well replacement and roof repairs — and said the district has trimmed positions in recent years to balance budgets, including reductions and layoffs in instructional staff and administration. He said the school committee approved the budget on its internal calendar and that the proposed increase matches the town projection, allowing schools and town to proceed with aligned planning.

Next steps

No council vote on the school budget occurred at the hearing. Don and council members said ongoing coordination between the district and town finance staff will continue. Staff said the district will provide additional detail as the town’s budget process proceeds and that the school committee will continue to refine capital and program priorities.

Why it matters: The budget affects classroom staffing, special education services, transportation and capital projects affecting building safety and instructional space. The CTE tuition and Medicaid reimbursements both have multi-year implications for district revenues and spending.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Coventry Town Council - 18 Mar 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Superintendent Don presented a 2.42% budget request that aligns with the town’s projection, reviewed revenue shifts including rising Medicaid reimbursements and tuition, and raised concerns about students attending CTE programs in other districts under the state’s 'substantially similar' rules.","taxTitle","Coventry, Kent County, Rhode Island","taxId",79575,"location","Rhode Island","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6116107,"Council hears request to add assessor clerk ahead of upcoming valuation work",254,242000,496000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2734511-e720f8b51de8c866715492154af91a47&start=242&end=496","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2734511-e720f8b51de8c866715492154af91a47/thumbnail_242000.jpg","/articles/6116107/Rhode-Island/Council-hears-request-to-add-assessor-clerk-ahead-of-upcoming-valuation-work","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6116107-4d3d03968cbfcf542fb1e386fbd9f821/orig.mp4?Expires=1771136773&Signature=Oi4ruSpZ1C-pkwnVGjiyBDCuNpUu~01mZ7EFoB1YB3j4aTIqU0N6l6jMPAZrZ7fZXlCVW5ki4bYInj94Die2UVP8zujV1hab7~uni8r9MHV3JFM0YqKHU~WnuJoKjPevlJIesrnaJa28b7UdI2KdC4egvdu-ZSNwuWaqG7IPAKEOvNYpbfikfTvhNjvV6sJGpq9LdmFE4-aS2lEYMbWegimANpTfeAhjLm3x2c4RR2iTtMWK0ymWHEhgGbgsH4UtueS-0L8Q57i5Epcg6boLXdHgZrKrBkKQdYPaAkEArWxhaC6Vjnj7U6AUazqBLXKnCOMZD0poDw4QsFzhZh0l4Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Coventry — The Coventry Town Council received a request during budget hearings to add a clerk to the tax assessor’s office so the assessor can get back into the field ahead of upcoming valuation work and ensure the office remains staffed while personnel recover from long-term absences.

Town Manager Perlow said the assessor’s office is currently down staff and that the requested hire would allow the assessor to “get out there, and get some eyes on some of these properties.” He told the council the assessor has been unable to perform field inspections due to staffing shortages and that the new hire would restore the office’s ability to handle in-person assessments.

Revaluation funding and timeline

Perlow outlined a multi-year funding approach for revaluation work: the current budget line for valuation-related costs has been reduced from $50,000 to $15,000 for the coming year, with a plan to increase to $25,000 the next year and continue at that level to build funds for a statistical revaluation and a future full revaluation. “We know our full valuations costing 579,000,” Perlow said, noting the escrow fund will show a temporary deficit when full revaluation costs occur but that the town plans to recover the expense over subsequent years.

Council members asked whether there are staffing benchmarks in Rhode Island or nationally for assessor offices; staff said there is not a statewide standard they could cite, though they compared Coventry with nearby towns for context. Councillors asked staff to include comparative staffing information from peer communities for future finance-committee discussions.

Board of review and volunteer recruitment

The assessor’s office also sought volunteers for the Board of Assessment Review. The department noted openings for community members from District 1 and District 4 and described the board’s low meeting frequency.

What was not decided

No council vote on hiring occurred at the hearing. Staff said the assessor-hire request and the revaluation funding schedule will be considered in subsequent budget and finance-committee meetings.","Town Manager Perlow and assessor staff described a proposal to add a clerk to the tax assessor’s office so the assessor can perform property inspections and prepare for an upcoming statistical revaluation and a full revaluation the council will need to fund.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6116111,"Coventry council reviews DPW budget, sanitation truck funding and asset-management proposal",2558,512000,3070000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2734511-e720f8b51de8c866715492154af91a47&start=512&end=3070","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2734511-e720f8b51de8c866715492154af91a47/thumbnail_512000.jpg","/articles/6116111/Rhode-Island/Coventry-council-reviews-DPW-budget-sanitation-truck-funding-and-asset-management-proposal","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6116111-188255eee7c6cc07a0376d36f39f4e74/orig.mp4?Expires=1771136773&Signature=T6xBITJBpLtsnt7qfTgyfNxN6Cki7S7xgzKtXmNYaGoKTNRawBocTFU7zjeSA-aZqtSufWG4SO4B2pfsZUthxrjbu6WMnhwVfWrSBsU8Vxca1RC1tEe-UYzIGLct5eNv6cngFFIwX329j9L~kcUlVRifYmabt1NaqrOuLDSaf4eIu2Sm1YiDuHJe5R7lUNdQAIv7gAAMQiVScJGsxVWyYssMi7IOQzSYquKKCdU8NIbjX6s4dQmk3tLDXjy3qj-iKCBL-XGBPyG7dYbQKvzGYHU~xLuDPfgfvw4TbQIJntE8kj1CNBT07HM3ouY0IpodoiDgdL7gpcloyNvOWWQ2WQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Coventry — The Coventry Town Council on Tuesday examined budget changes for the Department of Public Works that include a 10% salary increase for the DPW director to serve as the project manager for an upcoming town annex renovation, discussion of how to fund three new sanitation trucks, plans to reduce vehicle corrosion and a proposed $30,000 asset-management system with a citizen reporting portal.

Town Manager Perlow told the council the director’s pay increase is tied to an expanded role overseeing the annex project. “He’s going to take over that role, in addition to the regular duties,” Perlow said, adding that a superintendent position would handle day-to-day operations while the director oversees the construction work. When asked whether the 10% increase is temporary for the project, a council member was told, “No. It doesn’t,” meaning the change will remain in the director’s salary.

The budget also includes four new DPW positions: an additional roads operator, an additional driver, an extra mechanic and a superintendent. DPW Director Kevin McGee told the council the extra mechanic would be dedicated primarily to sanitation trucks to support preventive maintenance and reduce out-of-service time.

Why it matters: The proposals touch payroll, capital spending and service continuity for core town services such as road maintenance, snow removal and sanitation. The funding approach the council chooses for the trucks and storage work will affect multi-year operating and capital budgets.

The sanitation trucks: funding options and timeline

Council members spent substantial time on how to pay for three automated sanitation trucks the town ordered. McGee and town staff said the vendor order does not require immediate payment; the delivery schedule now projects the first truck arriving in April, the second in May and the third in July. The total purchase price discussed for the three trucks was about $1,200,000.

The council has previously approved a resolution authorizing the purchase order; that 02/15/2023 resolution specified purchase through the Sourcewell cooperative purchasing agreement (contract number 110223-LEG) with San Terry Equipment Company for Freightliner M2 chassis and Labrie automated bodies. McGee said the council still must decide whether to finance the trucks through a lease purchase agreement with an outside lender or to finance them internally through an escrow-style internal service fund and “pay ourselves back” over several years. Staff said interest-rate comparisons and final cash availability will guide the decision; current borrowing-rate estimates were described in the meeting as likely higher than several months ago.

Vehicle maintenance and storage

Councilors raised repeated concerns about corrosion and vehicle life. McGee said one truck has been out of service since December with undercarriage rot and that a single repair recently cost about $22,000. He described a plan to use available millings to create a paved area in the existing yard to reduce dirt and mud exposure and to seek grant funding for a larger canopy-and-paved site on the cleared parcel across the bike path.

McGee identified two funding possibilities for that larger site: a municipal compost grant application the town has submitted (the request discussed in the meeting was $750,000) and a separate capital pot of roughly $400,000 for the canopy. He said millings already on hand would allow crews to improve the present yard at low internal cost in the near term. A council member cautioned that the chosen site is near wetlands and flagged a required 50-foot setback; McGee said the planned work would maintain an appropriate buffer.

Infrastructure and capital items

McGee outlined other capital items in the DPW requests, notably an undercarriage wash system intended to reduce corrosion across the fleet and save maintenance costs long term; he said crews have included that in the capital-improvement spreadsheet. The department also proposed sanders and new plows, and a dedicated mechanic assignment to sanitation equipment.

Asset management and citizen portal

The DPW presented a proposal for an asset-management system that would track roads, sidewalks, signs, stormwater assets, vehicle and facilities maintenance, and include a citizen-portal feature for residents to report potholes and other issues. McGee said one vendor quoted an implementation and first-year price of about $30,000; other vendor estimates discussed by staff ranged higher. “It will allow us to be able to track vehicle maintenance, facilities maintenance, roads, sidewalks and signs...and give more concise accounting for the actual cost for materials, equipment and labor,” McGee said.

Council members and staff noted the portal could improve transparency and capital planning and that pavement-management and street-scan data could integrate into the system.

What was not decided

No formal council vote to adopt these DPW changes or capital purchases took place at this hearing. Staff indicated several funding decisions — including whether to self-finance the sanitation trucks, whether to commit Town funds or pursue grants for the storage canopy/compost area and whether to include the asset-management system in capital or operating budgets — will return to the council for resolution in upcoming meetings.

Future steps

Staff said they will return with financing recommendations for the sanitation trucks, further cost details for the undercarriage facility and the municipal-compost/canopy grant application status. The DPW director and manager also suggested staggered implementation to use millings now and pursue grant funding for the larger canopy project.","Council heard DPW Director Kevin McGee and Town Manager Perlow outline pay and staffing changes tied to an annex project, options to fund three new sanitation trucks, plans for a vehicle storage/compost site and a $30,000 asset-management/citizen-portal proposal.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Superintendent details Coventry Public Schools budget, highlights CTE tuition outflows and Medicaid reimbursements

Council hears request to add assessor clerk ahead of upcoming valuation work

Coventry council reviews DPW budget, sanitation truck funding and asset-management proposal