North Kingstown council adopts $137.2 million preliminary budget; school ask draws 4-1 vote

The North Kingstown Town Council voted March 18 to adopt a preliminary fiscal year 2026 budget totaling $137,245,589, setting the town on a path to a public hearing and final adoption in April.

The vote covered the general fund, enterprise funds and the school appropriation. The council approved the town general fund and the debt service plan, and cleared enterprise budgets for Allen Harbor, the golf course, water and sewer, and the transfer station. The council also adopted a town appropriation for the school department of $63,504,153; that motion passed on a roll-call vote recorded in the meeting: Councilor Giroux — yes; Councilor Hill Ross — no; Councilor Page — yes; Councilor McElroy — yes; Council President Mancini — yes (4–1).

Why it matters: the preliminary vote starts a formal process that includes a public hearing and the chance for amendments before a final budget is adopted. The town manager and finance director said their plan aims to avoid a tax increase while using restricted fund balances and investment income where feasible; however council members repeatedly noted that future capital borrowing for a new middle school and a public-safety facility will raise debt-service costs in later years.

Key details from the day: Town Manager Ralph Mollis opened the workshop with an overview of the operating plan and the manager’s recommended tax-rate targets (which he described as proposals rather than final rates). Finance Director Deb Bridgeman described revenue assumptions and told the council the municipality has a sizeable unrestricted fund balance, which the administration expects to use for some one‑time capital costs so they do not immediately raise the tax rate. The meeting included department-by-department presentations and questions on police, fire, public works, planning, recreation, library services and the school department.

School department: Superintendent Kenny Duver (as listed in the school materials provided at the meeting) presented the school committee-approved budget, a request the administration said reduced from an earlier draft. The council discussed a number of school-line items — most notably personnel and special-education supports — and several councilors pressed the school department on where additional savings could be found. The council recorded a separate roll call for the school appropriation (4–1, Hill Ross opposed).

Libraries and civic contributions: Council members spent a lengthy portion of the meeting on civic contributions and funding for two independent neighborhood libraries (Davisville and Willett). Councillors asked the libraries and the town library director to supply more detail on the potential effects of proposed new state library standards, and asked staff to bring additional information to the next council meetings and to the budget public hearing.

Next steps: The council set a public hearing schedule and the April adoption timeline. The manager’s office and finance director will publish the full preliminary budget documents and a schedule for department follow-ups. The council’s public hearing will be the formal window for citizens to offer comment and for any later changes to be proposed before final adoption.