Westerly council adopts FY2026 budget after hearing public pleas for health, shelter and recreation funding

The Westerly Town Council adopted a fiscal year 2026 general government budget on April 22 following a public hearing that included appeals from local health and social-service providers and extended council deliberation. The council approved the budget after making targeted increases for nonprofits and youth sports and leaving the council’s overall reduction to the Finance Board’s proposal largely intact.

The public hearing opened with Allison Crook, president and CEO of Wood River Health, who described an April emergency in which clinic staff resuscitated a 4‑year‑old boy and credited the health center’s on‑site teams and equipment. “Without the lifesaving interventions performed by our well trained staff, this boy might have had a very different outcome,” Crook said, and she asked the council to consider increasing the town’s subsidy to the health center.

Why this matters: Council members said the budget balances competing priorities — holding down the property tax rate while addressing maintenance needs, education funding and community services. The council voted to adopt a budget that trims about $950,000 from the Finance Board’s original proposal but restores several line items after council amendments.

Most important facts: The council approved the FY2026 general government budget — described in the adopted motion as “the fiscal year 2025–2026 general government budget as presented by the Finance Board and as further adjusted by the Town Council” — by a 5–2 roll call. Council amendments during the meeting increased subsidies for youth sports, the WARM shelter and Wood River Health; the manager later summarized the night’s additions as $13,000 total (an $8,000 increase to youth sports, $2,000 to WARM, and $3,000 to Wood River Health), leaving the council’s cut from the Finance Board at about $937,000.

The manager presented illustrative tax‑bill math showing a proposed mill rate near 7.11 (down from a cited current rate of 9.81), but staff noted that rising property assessments mean many taxpayers may not see a lower dollar bill even at a lower mill rate. The manager repeatedly cautioned that assessment changes affect final tax bills independent of the mill rate.

Public comment and subsidies: In addition to Crook, Jessica Mowery, executive director of WARM (the town’s warm‑shelter program), urged continued and increased support and said WARM serves “over 4,000 people every year” through meal sites, emergency shelter and outreach. Several residents, including Paula Brulette, a member of the Finance Board, pressed the council on the capital plan and on the Finance Board’s role in the annual budget process, arguing the board needs more time and earlier access to proposed changes before late alterations appear in the draft budget.

Key council deliberations and amendments: Councilors debated a series of targeted changes during deliberations rather than in the public‑comment period. Notable items discussed or acted on included: - Youth sports subsidies: Councilor Niemeyer moved to increase subsidies for Wesley Little League, Pee Wee Football and Westerly Girls Softball by $2,000 each; the motion was amended on the floor to include Westerly Youth Soccer and the amended motion passed. The accounts cited in the discussion were 506932, 506933, 506934 and 506938. - WARM shelter: Councilors approved additional funding for WARM that brought its subsidy to a round $30,000 (the manager said the increase added $2,000 that night). - Wood River Health: After Crook’s remarks, the council approved an additional $3,000 to the center’s subsidy (account 506450 in the manager’s listing). - Chamber of Commerce: Councilor Vandover proposed reducing the Chamber’s subsidy from $50,000 to $25,000 and reallocating funds to WARM and the Johnny Cake Center; council debate was extensive and the budget ultimately retained the Chamber subsidy as presented in the Finance Board package.

Items discussed, not concluded: Councilors debated a proposed change in how the town allocates debt service between the town and the sewer enterprise fund (a suggested 55/45 split rather than the prior 60/40); the transcript records in‑depth discussion of account 503,335 (debt service) and arithmetic about a $290,000 line item and a $14,500 swing, but the record does not show a final ordinance or final vote on that split during the meeting. The council also discussed a proposal to convert the transfer‑station flat fee into an assessment based on property value (manager presented examples using a 0.06 per‑thousand rate), and discussed but did not pass (no second) a motion to create a restricted beach‑nourishment fund seeded with $50,000.

Process and oversight concerns: Several speakers, including Brulette and other councilors, criticized last‑minute changes to the capital plan and asked for greater Finance Board involvement outside the narrow March–May review window. The manager and councilors described planned capital/maintenance work to be scoped this summer by consultant Studio Jade.

What the vote means: By a 5–2 vote, the council adopted the adjusted FY2026 budget and the associated budget resolutions. The manager said the adopted budget reflects roughly $937,000 in reductions from the Finance Board’s prior proposal after the night’s additions. The council did not adopt any new ordinances at the meeting to change sewer‑debt allocation or to convert the transfer‑station fee; those items remain subject to further review.

Next steps: The council’s adopted budget and accompanying resolutions will be recorded in the town’s official minutes; enterprise‑fund items such as the transfer station assessment must be finalized at upcoming enterprise‑fund budget meetings, the manager said. Capital‑plan details from Studio Jade are expected this summer.

Ending: Council members cited competing responsibilities — maintaining infrastructure, supporting schools and social services, and limiting tax increases — as they closed deliberations. The council adjourned after approving the budget and calling for future follow‑up on the enterprise fund and capital‑plan sequencing.