[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,75,87,99],{"_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",6111177,"mediaKeyId","2752224-ae36b9642fff8f8d3530d5012906d735","parentId",2752224,"title","Committee approves prior meeting minutes and adjourns Jan. 9 session","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",49000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2752224-ae36b9642fff8f8d3530d5012906d735&start=49&end=49","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2752224-ae36b9642fff8f8d3530d5012906d735/thumbnail_49000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6111177/Rhode-Island/Committee-approves-prior-meeting-minutes-and-adjourns-Jan-9-session","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6111177-3602b68721ea07903ac9c78e8ab6fe6a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771157298&Signature=brVzW~4xpJCDBSxnykNw73LRj1jHH0CXQhkj7Les7vRbl55teNKpg16IKe7BgRM~Ch9G1xkf9Fy4lt7u7nyG8TlOO1y3bcVmzZE-j5VhI2Ke1livRpehg457THfqnX5Zx1GeusajtwKwkmV~WH3tg57JfQ8sORLR7mE59DpT-P-DLERI3hEJ4Tfd7WZqTtm6AjGA~U2EGKO5UePZGcFRBGNxODQGY~ZiYUix7U0D92a4Ge~UF5D6nG-3cEJCElhLoznlSgwwhp5NgD-09Etjih~R~8t0YHh6tmIjd1g-EIWa~9Zqyj-0NjzspeM6woUSjnzLkaqHWRoXHEmw8adY9Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Lincoln, RI","date","2025-01-09T00:00:00Z","article","At the start of the Jan. 9 session, the committee considered and approved minutes from its Nov. 14 meeting. A motion to approve the minutes was moved by Bruce and seconded by Mike and the minutes were approved by voice vote.

At the close of the Jan. 9 meeting, the committee entertained a motion to adjourn moved by Bruce and seconded by Nick. The motion passed by voice vote.

These two formal actions were the recorded votes in the meeting minutes; no other formal votes on ordinances, contracts or appropriations were recorded in the transcript.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Lincoln Budget Board - January 09, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The committee voted to approve the Nov. 14 meeting minutes and later moved to adjourn at the Jan. 9 meeting. Both motions passed by voice votes recorded as \"Aye.\"","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},6111182,"Audit restatement and rising uncollected property taxes prompt talk of letters, tax sale",325,3443000,3768000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2752224-ae36b9642fff8f8d3530d5012906d735&start=3443&end=3768","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2752224-ae36b9642fff8f8d3530d5012906d735/thumbnail_3443000.jpg","/articles/6111182/Rhode-Island/Audit-restatement-and-rising-uncollected-property-taxes-prompt-talk-of-letters-tax-sale","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6111182-e3f96646d7c22c19e38e044e25d80f85/orig.mp4?Expires=1771157298&Signature=gi4JsFkDn6Dddh6tBdRJUYTVdhYXTmFK-pgIJiaS7N3YXk8lQYxD3NLAcLrhH8yxcyJUTNOyzYRkNCynB-YqrVgZrTs6hKZ6Lt6fCEC4Sq0gv0FGAzhpFlv2cBu1qYxTMM~EciScrFnf2VsCtQIa14b3JeooeMKdqci6eGoQNlACa6sD6p52jzsFBLOgtpnM8s35Y7h~uYAjrQmbR2OE4SCKxfS5~652lPUE2-v2PuFlXAbYF6nucXgGv37f9CV6pcOQNQvjNsmeZnkC95tJ7HAtXSzOKTHZlOFVhfV5fasx3UzKa0DTXa1fP5ojDjOVF8IXKi2AXuhCEhAZh7tncg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Town officials briefed committee members on an audit restatement and large outstanding property-tax balances at the Jan. 9 meeting. The audit restatement moved approximately $1.5 million in gaming-related revenue between governmental and fund accounts; officials said the change corrected earlier reporting misclassifications for fiscal 2022'2023.

Committee members expressed concern about a multi-year decline in collection rates for property taxes. The meeting record shows the town's collection rate has dropped below prior budget assumptions (the transcript cited recent collection percentages in the low-to-mid 90s in past years and lower recent actuals), and committee members reported roughly $26 million outstanding in property taxes across multiple years.

Town staff told the committee the finance office is planning more active outreach, including sending demand letters to delinquent taxpayers and possibly proceeding with tax sale procedures where warranted. Committee members said the last full tax sale occurred in 2015 and that staff will first attempt letter campaigns to trigger voluntary payment before formal tax-sale action.

Committee members asked for periodic updates on the results of outreach and any tax-sale preparations, noting that improved collections would materially affect near-term municipal revenue projections and could reduce pressure on the operating budget or the need to draw accumulated surplus.

Members also asked for clarification on audit details, including asset posting and the reconciliation of records with county clerk files; staff said a new auditing firm has reviewed prior work and that the town will request management letters and follow-up documentation.","The committee reviewed an audit restatement that reclassified roughly $1.5 million in gaming revenue and discussed long-running tax-collection shortfalls, with outstanding property taxes the committee estimated at about $26 million and collection rates below earlier budget assumptions.",{"_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},6111187,"Construction delays, playground relocations and accessibility questions surface on Lincoln school capital projects",260,991000,1251000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2752224-ae36b9642fff8f8d3530d5012906d735&start=991&end=1251","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2752224-ae36b9642fff8f8d3530d5012906d735/thumbnail_991000.jpg","/articles/6111187/Rhode-Island/Construction-delays-playground-relocations-and-accessibility-questions-surface-on-Lincoln-school-capital-projects","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6111187-c010a6356890416c2b95cf7804edb736/orig.mp4?Expires=1771157298&Signature=VmbYzRoo3PYiiZIWBA~VUWt7e9gQYo~0q476sxzlRRdCjwIEo9poug5Iz8oFAd90hgkJDjAN-pjyJTWOKai5Evsfu26rAYXTQ0o~zyD7-tktok0b-ygJ6IEh1J4b1HNMit0ioBKE7FnLj7mDkg-nxImMFaFW6Wp37VTHIOrsPGsRsFRE3oIASDRetWHEC7dMXRb8shbyDdemR1QCRff4IzpFnyAVR5SqngNxFL3xgQQgr~SVM465RnysoNgbqHaVXua7U1SsCvMS2UH72MThOwBrapsBaTEyTQgy12G3vxkwjdBLCVqrl~yvwiFym~P0BHxh4eemF0Rks44xH27G4A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Members of the town committee reviewed the status of ongoing and planned capital projects at Lincoln schools at their Jan. 9 meeting. Officials reported active work at several sites, disruption from relocations and site constraints that could affect budgets and timelines.

The committee heard that construction is underway at Northern and other schools; temporary trailers remain in place and site work is ongoing. The district recently held a groundbreaking for additions and the contractor for the four schools is serving as general contractor with subcontractors handling concrete and building erection.

Several playgrounds must be relocated because additions or site moves changed available space. Committee members said the relocation at Grimsley Preschool and other sites has already triggered a roughly $13,000 expense at one preschool and that playground moves may be funded from either capital or operating lines depending on project accounting and the timing of transfers.

Salesville and other sites face drainage and access problems. Committee members flagged a trade-off at Salesville between installing a sprinkler system that would trigger different code requirements and replacing doors/windows and egress elements to meet accessibility and life-safety codes. The cost of making egress and accessibility changes could be substantial; committee members said the district is weighing a suspended sprinkler system or removing certain elements to reduce sprinkler scope.

Parking and site layout were discussed for Salesville and Woodland Court parking. Committee members and recreation representatives raised concerns that proposed parking changes could reduce open play space and affect fields; committee members suggested repaving and better marking of existing lots as lower-cost options.

Site utility work was also discussed. At central facilities a rooftop HVAC unit plan ran into alignment problems where structural columns and as-built drawings did not match, leading the committee to question whether the unit should be ground-mounted. The committee also noted potential gas-line work tied to changes (a move from smaller residential-size gas lines to a 4-inch feed could require welding and cost in the low six figures in some cases).

Security and technology capital needs were addressed: the schools previously requested infrastructure wiring and are now seeking camera upgrades to make systems compatible across facilities; committee members said some previously allotted funds had been used for infrastructure and this year's request focuses on camera compatibility and additional units where needed.

Committee members asked for clearer documentation of which capital costs are eligible for capital funding vs. operating transfers and requested updates on project timelines and costs when the construction managers provide revised flow charts.","Committee members reviewed progress and complications on multiple school capital projects, including building additions at Northern and Central, playground relocations tied to construction, drainage and parking issues at Salesville, and accessibility and sprinkler trade-offs that could affect costs.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_46":105,"_48":106,"_50":107,"_52":108,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":109,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":110,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6111192,"School committee previews roughly $67 million FY 2026 operating budget and flags $843,000 shortfall",808,1682000,2490000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2752224-ae36b9642fff8f8d3530d5012906d735&start=1682&end=2490","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2752224-ae36b9642fff8f8d3530d5012906d735/thumbnail_1682000.jpg","/articles/6111192/Rhode-Island/School-committee-previews-roughly-67-million-FY-2026-operating-budget-and-flags-843000-shortfall","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6111192-f552ddf7e599fc3b1e71bafcb6ba7698/orig.mp4?Expires=1771157298&Signature=IffSo4SbdbD~~gE-Qynf2oyIY7Zc~6oula4ywnS3EWJb1BAFn9MSordUPAgIyvXsqnu8rLN1S49Zp60i6M~q27CHX6OtCN1TjHD3XvzPIppJcOUGPMtp7vJAIhrRPLnKpQ5Myo7kHyJ7FGb3R6Kc3o4cWPYYiqYSmQMVCr44knOg43BVe36-7MWfPJw2id936Ox-SAJPzT4XQIJHPChHyRkuC95ccCeEoKcL5kwP5nIG7m8qsK3KuUNSwHxzidSiQ2EQULLXeKukDmFqOeCFjqpF4BdN~JutBSYJT8pL~7eo2-fOt9PSrkpYvAALcgeZeLkx6w2Lgvq4XNFK1OlZoQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lincoln 'Town Committee discussed the Lincoln School Department's preliminary fiscal year 2026 operating budget, estimated at about $67 million, during its Jan. 9 meeting. Committee members and school officials outlined major cost drivers, staffing requests, and a projected budget shortfall of roughly $843,000.

The proposed FY 2026 operating budget would be an increase over FY 2025 driven primarily by salary and benefit increases, added personnel requests and higher operating costs. School officials told the committee the draft assumes limited state aid and that the school committee does not want to present a budget that requires the town's appropriation to rise by the statutory 4% cap.

Committee members said salaries, step increases and negotiated pay changes are the largest single drivers. The draft includes about $1.64 million in requested personnel additions (two elementary teachers, one special-education teacher at Salesville, a preschool teacher and instructional assistants), along with projected increases in fringe benefits and pension contributions. The projection for medical premiums in the draft is roughly a 4% increase, though committee members noted the employee health trust has suggested higher rates (between 5% and 8%).

The schools reported several one-time funding and carryover issues. Officials identified roughly $518,000 in curriculum cost increases and another $164,000 tied to ESY (extended school year) costs; members said some recurring program costs had been temporarily paid with ESSER (federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief) funds in prior years and the draft budget reflects those costs returning to the operating budget. Committee members called this an \"ESSER cliff\" concern: one-time money masking recurring costs.

Electricity and net-metering invoices were discussed as a material line-item change. Committee members said the town and school had not previously been allocating the school's share of net-metering-related invoices consistently; the draft shows electricity increases of about $267,000 in part because those invoices are now being included in the schools' operating accounts.

Charter and CTE tuition and some transportation service costs were shown as decreasing in the draft, while special-education 1:1 nursing and related services were projected to rise (committee members cited an increase near $120,000). Committee members also noted anticipated teacher retirements were uncertain (the draft assumed five but the district had received notice from only one).

School leaders and town staff suggested several options to reduce the gap, including scaling noncore curriculum items, reclassifying some purchases as capital where appropriate, and drawing on an accumulated surplus (committee members estimated an available accumulated surplus in the $450,000'$500,000 range from FY 2024). The school committee chair, the committee was told, emphasized a desire not to present a budget that automatically seeks the full 4% maximum town appropriation.

The schools plan several next steps: a fuller school committee meeting the following Monday, revisions to the draft, and a special school committee meeting scheduled Jan. 27 to finalize the request to the town administrator. Committee members asked the district to present a departmental (rather than strictly school-by-school) view of the budget to make cross-cutting trends easier to track.

Questions and follow-ups identified at the meeting included: clarity on the net-metering invoices (which entity paid them when they were not invoiced to the school), confirmation of assumed health-care premium increases, verification of which recurring costs had been covered by ESSER and should be shifted back to operating, and the rationale for the selected personnel priorities (committee members signaled special-education staffing at Salesville as a top near-term priority).","At a Jan. 9 town committee meeting, members reviewed the Lincoln school department's preliminary FY 2026 operating and capital requests (about $67 million), identified main cost drivers including salaries and electricity, and discussed a roughly $843,000 projected budget shortfall and possible use of accumulated surplus.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee approves prior meeting minutes and adjourns Jan. 9 session

Audit restatement and rising uncollected property taxes prompt talk of letters, tax sale

Construction delays, playground relocations and accessibility questions surface on Lincoln school capital projects

School committee previews roughly $67 million FY 2026 operating budget and flags $843,000 shortfall