Narragansett officials urged to document school funding needs as state budget talks continue

Town officials and state legislators discussed education funding and the school funding formula at the joint session on Feb. 3.

Representative Carol Hagan McEntee said the governor's proposed budget and ongoing budget negotiations will shape final state aid amounts and advised the council and school leaders to provide specific, written examples of funding shortfalls. "If for Narragansett was level funded for this year, but that really represents kind of a cut because of the cost of everything have gone up, that's something to probably put in writing in a letter and send to us," McEntee said.

Why it matters: The town's school budget depends in part on state aid formulas; officials said districts across the state have flagged the formula as consistently problematic and that statutory revisions are typically reintroduced each year.

Discussion details: McEntee and others said there is a recurring effort to revise the education funding formula to include costs such as transportation. The delegation cautioned that the state faces a significant budget shortfall; one lawmaker referenced a $330,000,000 deficit in the state's budget. Lawmakers encouraged Narragansett officials to coordinate with local school leadership and to prepare testimony or written materials for the General Assembly.

Next steps: Council members said they will coordinate with Dr. Cummings and Tammy McNees, chair of the school committee, to document programs at risk and to submit written materials to legislators. The delegation offered to advocate for district needs during the budget process.

Ending: Legislators asked local officials to be "loud and... aggressive" in documenting specific needs to secure funding during the legislative budget process.