Nonprofits seek special appropriations as Narragansett council begins three-night budget workshops

Several local nonprofits described programs and asked the town council for special appropriations at the first of three budget work sessions Tuesday evening.

The requests ranged from modest operating support to one-time project funding and included community-serving organizations that said they rely on volunteers, small grants and municipal contributions to deliver services in Narragansett and neighboring towns.

South County Museum asked for $10,000 to support general operations and continued upkeep of its eight-acre campus and seven buildings and to finish build-out of a planned fire museum to house two antique fire trucks currently on loan from the Narragansett Fire Department, Lynn Wagner said. Paul Shower of St. Peter’s Church described the volunteer-run community market and food pantry that last year served about 770 people; he told councilors the pantry’s budget rose from about $60,000 to $80,000 because demand increased about 20% and noted the pantry relies mainly on donations and foundation grants. Denise Panichas of Samaritans of Rhode Island requested $500 and described statewide suicide-prevention outreach, thanked town police and fire for their cooperation on bridge-safety advocacy, and asked the council to review samaritansri.org’s town-specific pages.

Other presenters included Bill Morrison of the Wildlife Rehabilitators Association of Rhode Island, who said the clinic handled 188 animals from Narragansett last year and asked municipalities to support the clinic’s statewide work; Veronica Baronski of the Narrow River Preservation Association, which requested $2,600 to continue long-running water-quality monitoring with URI Watershed Watch; Erica Westbrook representing William G. Fornier VFW Post 916, which outlined veterans’ services and event support; Jessica Gosselin of Saint Elizabeth Adult Day Centers, which said Narragansett participants are increasing and requested level funding to support staff positions; Dr. Robert O’Neil of the Narragansett Historical Society asked the town for an additional $6,000 to finish restoration of the Windmill Building; Lisa Brunetti of Universe Juice described a new nonprofit reuniting survivors with first responders and requested startup support; and Peg Fredette from the Narragansett Chamber of Commerce described operations at the Welcome Center and noted the chamber’s budget request was lower than last year.

Town staff summarized the fiscal impact of the requests. Christine (Town Manager) told the council the FY2024–25 approved special-appropriations total was $210,811 and that the proposed requested total for FY2025–26 shown in the packet was $207,215 — a decrease from the prior year. Christine also noted the Historical Society asked for an additional $6,000 beyond the $6,000 already budgeted; two late requests (St. Peter’s community/pantry and Universe Juice) were not yet budgeted and together would add roughly $7,000 more, meaning the outstanding late requests total about $13,000 on top of the packet’s proposed numbers. She confirmed the council would not vote on appropriations that night and that a public hearing is scheduled to begin May 5.

Speakers asked questions about service areas and partnerships. Councilors asked presenters whether they sought comparable funding from neighboring towns (St. Peter’s confirmed it had asked South Kingstown for the same amount); whether nonprofit programs used town facilities (several cited in-kind building support); and how services were funded (donations, foundations, municipal contributions). Several presenters emphasized volunteer labor, community education, and cross-town service. No formal action or votes were taken at the meeting.

The council will hold a public hearing beginning May 5, when the public may testify again on these appropriations and the council will take final budget votes later in the adoption schedule.