[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_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":73},"mediaId",6111321,"mediaKeyId","2751443-5ba1914d47dea707c079257efa8449bd","parentId",2751443,"title","Budget board seeks clarity on revolving-fund resolutions, pavilion funding and upcoming tax sale","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",4507000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2751443-5ba1914d47dea707c079257efa8449bd&start=4507&end=4507","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2751443-5ba1914d47dea707c079257efa8449bd/thumbnail_4507000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6111321/Rhode-Island/Budget-board-seeks-clarity-on-revolving-fund-resolutions-pavilion-funding-and-upcoming-tax-sale","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6111321-55c29701f1759ddb092896a8ea4e64ce/orig.mp4?Expires=1770489607&Signature=QSLQgkvfTPelDIzsKrMKC4BTrbd16ZYZl33NR50aTnG-hNUu1CSBkCMe2ARnW5vcbdoHHUZGLkCXDNOaBcnELSCiIXN6o89VZsoZPla0SN4bscKconOhh5pvTE--xSEiBxhmMnobu~ZfqxT5TNVfDrxIQRoBgMoBbczn42Vap4arPDhB~iwk8pcFQ1BydYyAEbFgAGaNujJ38ZlPso187oL2Tjhqz3exQgEllBgkunyPWI4~UGqzBWCJ5mQFTeRnkhDyf6~rvYV9XDXJLT~MH9Vk3XiPDUvYA~nEykzz1rGmP8HFxf4roQ0f62I5KYJrE8kGhgORawlOa51Wq6t-nA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Lincoln, RI","date","2025-03-13T00:00:00Z","article","The budget board discussed several interlocking municipal finance items: fund balances from the FY23 audit, a resolution authorizing state-aid anticipation notes of up to $5 million to support projects in the school building revolving fund (the packet included a resolution that specifically named the Ferguson Field pavilion), and a proposed tax sale to recover delinquent taxes and sewer accounts.

Fund balances and gaming revenue: board members heard a briefing that the FY23 audit generated approximately $1.8 million in surplus that should be split between Fund 11 (open space) and Fund 12 (capital improvements) and that additional gaming and surplus funds may be available once the FY24 audit is complete. Staff estimated roughly $1.8 million could be available from gaming-related collections next year but said the FY24 audit timing (expected in April/May) will determine the final totals.

Revolving fund and pavilion language: the town administrator circulated draft resolutions to authorize state-aid anticipation notes payable from the school building revolving fund. One draft resolution explicitly listed “Ferguson Field Pavilion” as an approved project and stated the projects had been submitted to and approved by the state Department of Education. Multiple board members questioned that wording and raised two concerns: (1) the pavilion reference could mislead voters if the resolution is presented as a single, specific project rather than a bucket of approved, prioritized projects; and (2) the packet language appeared to suggest the pavilion already had RIDE approval when staff said the pavilion was intended to be considered for the Stage 2 application and that the final Stage 2 project list would be refined over months.

Board members and staff discussed process and roles: the revolving fund committee reviews and prioritizes approved projects and then recommends appropriations to the town council; the town council then approves appropriations. Several members asked staff to reword resolutions to clearly list all projects that could be funded or otherwise specify the intended flexibility, so voters are not misled at the financial town meeting.

Tax sale and collections: staff reported work to resume tax-sale activity (the last local tax sale had been run in 2019) with initial notification letters planned to encourage payoffs before any sale. Tentative timing discussed was late summer or early fall (a multi-step legal process beginning with notices that can take three to four months). Staff estimated about 200 properties could be delinquent across taxes and sewer accounts, with a gross delinquency total in the $1.5–$1.6 million range; prior tax-sale processes historically reduced the number of properties by the time of sale because many taxpayers cure delinquencies once contacted. The board reiterated the town’s practice to work with residents who show mitigating circumstances but also noted the need to enforce collections to protect other taxpayers.

Other items and next steps: board members asked staff to (a) rework the revolving-fund resolutions to enumerate projects or otherwise clarify voter intent, (b) confirm which projects have formal state approvals and which are intended for Stage 2 consideration, and (c) publish an outreach plan and timeline for the planned tax sale, including early-notice letters. No formal votes were taken at the meeting on these items.

Ending: board members said they would continue to probe the revolving fund wording and schedule follow-up meetings before the financial town meeting so that voters receive transparent, itemized information about projects and funding sources.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Lincoln Budget Board - March 13, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Board members reviewed FY23 surplus allocations, questioned wording on a proposed state-aid anticipation note for the school revolving fund (including a Ferguson Field pavilion listing) and discussed a planned tax sale and collection strategy.","taxTitle","Lincoln, Providence County, Rhode Island","taxId",79586,"location","Rhode Island","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_46":81,"_48":82,"_50":83,"_52":84,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":85,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":86,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6111326,"Lincoln HR director seeks assistant to manage benefits, retirees and payroll tasks",288,2485000,2773000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2751443-5ba1914d47dea707c079257efa8449bd&start=2485&end=2773","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2751443-5ba1914d47dea707c079257efa8449bd/thumbnail_2485000.jpg","/articles/6111326/Rhode-Island/Lincoln-HR-director-seeks-assistant-to-manage-benefits-retirees-and-payroll-tasks","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6111326-da3b0fc667269a4881ac9e6912cb4ee0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770489607&Signature=GBUQt6zbgWQFoVVrpuL0O0mJs2PId0yGJjo0BxqufloylCw-FN0tA7VeNWazn57q5aez-0GogvR5~x-OUKrb2flTG2dARhYS87DIbhOd4bLwwltuetnl4lq2KiGpLDRYcugJumvQ7MDQOuv2ZPYQtq1Fspo9mQLg90t2uJk8sQ~i57Xca7c2IY738oTsgU~lV6ymkmwWX0N4x9NjGarFK8N2g24BFQ1BpKt4HxDmbeT4luRkHitMYtL6Pz5A8hSs4rUVmapii6KlU2oLdgOkWyBvLwuZsKQnq3Vjc37eqmaSyA9guzZV-bN8iBQthKoZ1y1uUDjCL8cYCWC5MS7Z9g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Christine Thompson, the town’s human resources director, told the budget board that the HR office supports roughly 170 active town employees (not including separate water and fire benefits), dozens of retirees and a complex mix of benefit and pension plans. Thompson asked the board to approve a new HR assistant position to manage benefits administration, onboarding and routine HR operations.

Thompson said the current workload — benefits, pension administration for retirees, workers’ compensation logistics, payroll overlap and routine HR casework — leaves little time for higher-priority strategic work such as a compensation and job-analysis review for union positions, comprehensive policy updates, performance-evaluation implementation and a planned transfer of the town’s workers’ compensation plan to a trust to reduce costs.

Why it matters: Thompson told the board that HR work touches payroll and finance, school retiree benefits and multiple municipal units; missing or incomplete administration has previously caused problems, including an instance where the town discovered insured vehicle records were incomplete and insurance coverage needed retroactive correction. Thompson said an assistant would allow the HR director to focus on organizational development, policy compliance and risk reduction.

Scope of the proposed position: the assistant would handle benefits logistics, onboarding/offboarding, leave administration, frontline HR inquiries and clerical tasks; Thompson said the person should have HR administrative experience and an interest in professional growth. Thompson suggested that shifting tactical work to an assistant would enable a cascade of projects — compensation review, policy refresh, updated benefits summaries, performance-evaluation rollout and employee wellness and engagement programs.

Board reaction and next steps: board members praised the presentation and the need for more HR capacity; no formal vote was recorded at the meeting. Staff said they will provide a formal job description and personnel-cost estimate for consideration during the town’s budget process.

Ending: Thompson and the town’s administration framed the request as a risk-reduction and efficiency measure; the board asked staff to return with a budgeted position description and cost estimate in time for the operating-budget deadline.","Christine Thompson, Lincoln’s HR director, asked the budget board to authorize an HR assistant to handle benefits administration, onboarding/offboarding and retiree support so the HR director can focus on strategic projects, compliance and employee development.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_46":93,"_48":94,"_50":95,"_52":96,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":97,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":98,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6111330,"Lincoln officials demonstrate aerial AI mapping tool to find unpermitted work, track damage and support enforcement",1912,159000,2071000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2751443-5ba1914d47dea707c079257efa8449bd&start=159&end=2071","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2751443-5ba1914d47dea707c079257efa8449bd/thumbnail_159000.jpg","/articles/6111330/Rhode-Island/Lincoln-officials-demonstrate-aerial-AI-mapping-tool-to-find-unpermitted-work-track-damage-and-support-enforcement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6111330-d3381be454aacb5d13a82b922fdf5a97/orig.mp4?Expires=1770489607&Signature=NH6w4PQtOhkZqY~QnaRwuNVo4KvVuTjDhjUi92w-ok16yf~RJ-jYaIkN3ZKBZ7PSYXN7hYw3d2Zju8~BP8opICslQCtizC9eL25wNcXEEO8gfYdaO2Zyd1I~s2Ipdnquk0CCrK5HjLlVDj-Wd45YJUDk1yziiuyCNR4gYlJzwJuYyx7Bj7Jk6z7WxXKZwXtQXU5kyyAsE0bfDIYzJIbUM2cWI~CgYzcPNp~Qa4B2XIbncDedl2qbX~er~30i-h7ifV7Tr6~JZy3tCg00Jw3CTEQpxav1PTLL6ZOI8lALtdZ8WSd-eAT6LCGO5gR5NUHlEZjU~H-uDCty5mM9uQvs8g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Town staff presented a commercial aerial-imagery and AI mapping tool and asked the board to include it in the town’s operating budget to help the tax assessor, building inspectors, engineering and public works departments monitor properties, detect unpermitted work and identify infrastructure issues.

The request came during a demonstration by the tax assessor’s office. Brenda Keeble, the town’s tax assessor, showed how the system can provide high-resolution oblique and vertical views, historical comparisons back to February 2014, measurement tools and AI layers that flag features such as pools, solar arrays, missing roof shingles, cracked pavement and debris.

Keeble said the tool can help identify work that was done without permits, correct assessment records and support enforcement. She showed examples from the town’s trial access: a completed in-ground pool that had been filled in (reducing a taxpayer’s assessment), a pool and cabana that were photographed in place despite the property owner telling inspectors the work was unfinished, and a case where town staff used the measuring tool plus a survey to apportion square footage between Lincoln and an adjacent municipality for tax purposes.

Why it matters: the assessor’s office and building inspections rely on permits and on-site inspections to capture taxable improvements. Keeble told the board that when residents deny access or inspectors cannot safely enter backyards, aerial imagery lets staff see additions, pools, solar panels and similar features without trespassing. The tool also produces data that town engineers and DPW staff could use for stormwater, road-crack mapping and prioritizing repairs.

Cost and vendor details discussed: Keeble compared local flyover prices and vendor packages. She said a single EagleView-style flyover for a jurisdiction Lincoln’s size would be roughly $11,000 and that a multi-feature annual package combining two flyovers and basic AI features was quoted to the town at $9,800 per year. Keeble said a lower-tier AI package (AI basic) is about $1,500 per year, and the vendor’s “AI advanced” tier (which includes debris, road-crack and other detection layers) requires a separate quote; staff said they will try to obtain that price and return to the board. Keeble also noted the service can archive imagery back to 02/2014 and that some neighboring communities (East Providence, Melrose, Attleboro were mentioned) use similar systems.

Limitations and follow-up items noted in the meeting: staff said measurement accuracy (for close setback or property-line decisions) still needs verification; Keeble agreed to confirm the tool’s measurement tolerances with the vendor. She also said trees and canopy cover limit detection of some items, and image quality can vary by display hardware. On the regulatory side, Keeble said the assessor can flag suspected unpermitted improvements and notify the building department, but enforcement (inspections, certifications or penalties) remains the building department’s responsibility. The town currently lacks a filled code-enforcement/zoning position, and board members stressed that any detection program will require coordination with building inspectors and outreach to residents so sightings are handled with notice and due process.

Other technical and policy points raised: Keeble said the system identifies many rooftop solar installations (she estimated — as a rough figure — a large increase in local solar over the past three years and noted multiple arrays that were not on the town’s records), distinguishes above-ground pools (not assessed) from in-ground pools (assessed), and can surface potential insurance-related issues such as missing shingles. She also said the imagery records can be used to support assessment corrections and that, in principle, the town could seek retroactive tax adjustments for up to six years where taxable work was not reported; staff said the town has not routinely done six-year challenges and would review legal and administrative constraints before pursuing that option.

Board direction: staff asked the board to approve adding the base package (two flyovers plus the basic AI viewer) to the operating budget and to allow staff to obtain a full quote for the AI advanced tier. No formal vote was held; staff said they will return with the vendor’s full pricing, a written scope of services, and answers about measurement accuracy and data-retention options.

Ending: Keeble and other staff recommended the tool as a cross-departmental resource for assessment accuracy, code compliance leads and infrastructure planning; the board deferred budget approval pending the vendor quote and follow-up answers about measurement precision and enforcement procedures.","Town staff demonstrated a commercial aerial imagery and AI mapping system and asked the board to budget for the tool to help the tax assessor, building, engineering and public works departments detect unpermitted work, monitor infrastructure and recover lost tax revenue.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Budget board seeks clarity on revolving-fund resolutions, pavilion funding and upcoming tax sale

Lincoln HR director seeks assistant to manage benefits, retirees and payroll tasks

Lincoln officials demonstrate aerial AI mapping tool to find unpermitted work, track damage and support enforcement