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Tiverton committee approves FY26 operating appropriation request of $35.24 million and $312,605 capital ask
Summary
The committee voted to submit a 4% operating increase request—$35,239,328—and a $312,605 capital request to the town; administration warned of a year-to-date projected deficit driven by transportation and out-of-district tuition.
The Tiverton School Committee voted to submit an operating appropriation request of $35,239,328 for fiscal year 2026 and a separate capital request of $312,605, the committee’s chair said during the March meeting.
The chair explained the timeline: the committee’s appropriation request must be handed to the town administrator by March 19. The town administrator will combine the request with the council’s budget and forward a unified packet to the budget committee; the town council must adopt a preliminary unified budget around May 13 and finalize it by June 30.
Dr. Cenkioni and Mr. Andrade outlined financial details. Mr. Andrade presented the February year-to-date budget-to-actual report and said year-to-date spending totaled roughly $23.2 million and that a projected net deficit increased by $166,746 from January to a new projected shortfall of $623,006.15. He told the committee the deficit is “primarily driven by statewide transportation and out-of-district tuition” and reviewed other drivers including personnel costs and equipment rentals.
The administration recommended a 4 percent operating increase in the appropriation request; when combined with a small expected increase in state aid, the administration said the FY26 operating request totals $35,239,328. The capital request of $312,605 would largely fund technology hardware, textbooks and a multi-year plan for social studies materials; administration said a six-year purchase plan for social studies curriculum would lower per-year cost.
The committee voted to approve both the operating appropriation request and the capital request. Committee members asked for monthly tracking of recommended transfers and spending changes; the administration agreed to provide a month-over-month summary showing recommended movement and to coordinate with the finance subcommittee on potential follow-up.
Less-critical details: the committee discussed whether transfers must net to zero under committee policy and the need to work with the town council to address an overall shortfall; the administration said some of the gap will require council action rather than intra-budget transfers.
