Cumberland School Committee urges town council to allow levy above 3% to avoid $1.7 million cuts

The Cumberland School Committee voted 6-1 on April 24 to send a resolution to the town council urging approval of a tax increase exceeding the current 3% levy cap to cover an estimated $1.7 million shortfall needed to fully fund recently settled teacher contracts and student services.

The resolution, introduced as SC R-2025-2, passed after an extended budget presentation by Superintendent Dr. Thornton and a discussion of possible cuts that the administration said would reduce services and programs. "If you keep cutting like this, year after year, you would see a drop" in achievement, Dr. Thornton said while outlining potential reductions including the elimination of six essential teachers, reductions in AP course offerings and cuts to intervention and multilingual learner staffing.

Committee members framed the resolution as a request that the council and mayor consider options for increasing local revenue rather than immediately imposing reductions on school programs. "We're urging them that if that's the only way they can do it, that they do raise that," said McKenzie Smith, chair of the fiscal subcommittee, explaining the committee's rationale and citing rising costs tied to enrollment and contract changes.

The vote on the resolution was 6 in favor and 1 opposed; member John Dean cast the lone nay. Dean said he supports the schools' funding needs but objected to the committee directing how the town should raise revenue and urged the council and mayor to find alternatives that would not increase taxes on residents who are already struggling.

The meeting also included a related fiscal vote: the committee approved an amendment to the current fiscal year 2024–25 budget to recognize additional use of fund balance to cover settled contracts. The motion to amend the 2024–25 budget passed 7-0. Business manager Mr. McGrath told the committee the amended budget recognizes an additional $2.2 million use of fund balance for this fiscal year; he said the committee’s budgeted fund balance would be drawn down but warned against relying on fund balance to solve a multi‑year gap.

Chair motions and routine votes during the meeting included a 7-0 vote to seal executive session minutes, a 7-0 vote to approve minutes on the consent agenda, and a 7-0 vote to approve payment of a single bill for $246,152.20 that the fiscal subcommittee had recommended. The committee adjourned at 7:54 p.m.

Votes at a glance

- Motion to approve amended 2024–25 budget recognizing additional use of fund balance (motion by Miss Feather; second by Ms. Goldstein): passed 7-0. Notes: Mr. McGrath said the amendment recognizes an additional $2.2 million use of fund balance for the current fiscal year; ending fund balance was discussed as approximately $4.8 million prior to the amendment and expected to change as year-end transactions close.

- Resolution SC R-2025-2 supporting a tax increase exceeding 3% to allow adequate funding for schools (motion by Miss Feather; second by Ms. Goldstein): passed 6-1. Recorded nay: John Dean.

- Motion to seal executive session minutes (motion by Miss Feather; second by Ms. Goldstein): passed 7-0.

- Motion to approve payment of bills totaling $246,152.20 (motion by Ms. Smith; second by Mr. Dean): passed 7-0.

Why it matters

Superintendent Dr. Thornton and committee members said the district is among the lowest in Rhode Island on per‑pupil expenditure while student needs and contract costs have risen. The administration presented a list of potential cuts that, if implemented, would affect classroom staffing, AP offerings and services for multilingual learners. Committee leaders presented the resolution as a step to give the town council and mayor notice that without additional local revenue the district will face deep program reductions.

What’s next

The resolution will go to the Cumberland Town Council and mayor for consideration; the council could decide whether to remove the levy cap or approve a specific override. The committee and administration said they will continue to work with town officials as they finalize the next fiscal year budget.