Burrillville council adopts $12 million capital improvement program; town funds $2.1 million

Capital Improvement Program adopted

The Burrillville Town Council on April 9 adopted the capital improvement program for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, approving an advertised $12,000,000 program that uses about $2,100,000 in town funds.

Why it matters: The capital plan includes several major infrastructure items whose timing and financing will affect the town's operating budget in fiscal 2026, including work on the Harrisville dam, a potential multi‑million dollar water program in Nasonville, and school bond financing scenarios.

Nathan Seabier, chair of the budget board, summarized the board's recommendation during a public hearing, saying, "This year was fairly straightforward." Seabier told the council the board had recommended against including certain operating items in the capital program this year because of uncertainty in the operating budget and noted a $336,000 carryover from power plant funds the board recommended transferring to major capital reserves.

Town Manager Michael C. Wood told the council the advertised total includes projects funded by other sources and grants; "we're advertising for $12,000,000 capital program," he said, and added the town expects to spend about $2.1 million from town funds. Wood outlined three outstanding funding uncertainties the council should watch: a pending application to the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank for additional funding for the Harrisville dam, three pending federal earmark grant applications (including one for a police station waterline), and a larger water-distribution engineering program in Nasonville he described as a potential $23,000,000 undertaking.

Council members and staff emphasized contingency planning. One councilor said the Harrisville dam loan from the Infrastructure Bank was the "most critical piece," noting that without that loan "everything becomes very fluid." Wood told the council the dam bids were in hand and the town was awaiting an Infrastructure Bank decision; he said the town might need an additional roughly $1.6–$1.8 million to complete the dam work.

Other items discussed during the hearing included support for a police department waterline and replacement of three police vehicles because some vehicles exceed 100,000 miles; the budget board also reiterated support for a town‑hall elevator repair to maintain ADA compliance. Wood said Spring Lake Beach projects and a proposed bike/walk path remain dependent on grant outcomes; he also noted the town may pursue additional federal earmarks if earlier awards were lost.

Action taken: A motion by Mr. Anderson, seconded by the vice president, to adopt the resolution adopting the capital improvement program for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, passed by voice vote.

Looking ahead: Wood and the council noted the CIP must be used to prepare the operating budget but can be adjusted before final budget adoption in June if funding conditions change.